Middle East Experience

The IDF believes that following the blow to Hamas' defense array (the Metro) it will be able to carry out targeted and accurate attacks on terrorist targets and infrastructure in Gaza when necessary.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF recommends harsh military response for every Gaza rocket

"Netanyahu dragged the State of Israel into a pointless war against public interest and security interests and caused great damage to Israel's security and image in the world."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Anti-Netanyahu protesters blame PM for Gaza escalation

The United Arab Emirates has asked to host the COP 28 international conference on climate change in 2023, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Sunday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The annual Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.The UAE exports oil and hosts the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) headquarters.“The UAE has demonstrated a proven track record in progressive climate action and multilateral cooperation that makes it an ideal convener for COP 28,” Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as saying by state news agency WAM.“The UAE has invested around $17 billion in commercial renewable energy projects on six continents and provided over $1 billion of grants and soft loans for renewable energy power plants.” The British government will host the next summit, COP 26, in Glasgow in November.Read more:Barakah is key component of UAE efforts to tackle climate change: UAE ambassador Nuclear energy: Why the Arab world should lead in delivering clean energyTAQA in talks to buy power plants in Abu Dhabi, plans green bonds in 2022, says CFO
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE asks to host 2023 climate change conference COP 28

Israeli police on Sunday escorted around 50 Jewish settlers to a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem where police actions in recent weeks had ignited protests and violence that triggered war in Gaza, according to the Islamic authority overseeing the site.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Waqf said police cleared young Palestinians out of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and barred entry to Muslims under the age of 45. Muslims who entered were required to leave their IDs with police at the entrance. It said three Muslims were arrested, including a guard.Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the site was open for “regular visits” and that police had secured the area to prevent “incidents,” without elaborating.Israeli police had briefly clashed with Palestinian worshipers after Friday prayers in an early test for the truce, which had taken effect hours earlier.The Waqf said Sunday it was the first time Jews had been allowed to visit the site since May 4, a week before the violence broke out.The al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. It sits on a sprawling hilltop in Jerusalem’s Old City that is revered by Jews as their holiest site because it was the location of the biblical temples. The site has often been the scene of Israeli-Palestinian violence and was the epicenter of the 2000 Palestinian intifada, or uprising.Israeli police repeatedly clashed with Palestinian protesters in the days leading up to May 10, when Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers fired long-range rockets at Jerusalem. The threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families from a nearby Jerusalem neighborhood was cited as another major trigger of the 11-day war, which was halted by a cease-fire on Friday.In recent years, increasing numbers of religious and nationalist Jews have visited the site. Palestinians fear Israel plans to eventually take over the compound or partition it. The Israeli government has repeatedly said it has no intention of changing the status quo, under which the Waqf oversees the site under Jordanian custodianship.Read more:US Senator Bernie Sanders moves to block Biden’s $735 mln weapons sale to IsraelDua Lipa blasts group that condemned her for her support of PalestiniansFive bodies, about ten survivors rescued in Gaza tunnel: Officials
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israeli police escort Jewish settlers in visit to al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem

The United Arab Emirates confirmed 1,591 new coronavirus infections, 1,569 recoveries and three deaths over 24 hours, the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) reported on Sunday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The UAE’s health authorities carried out 236,993 COVID-19 tests to determine the latest numbers.The country’s death toll and total recoveries increased to 1,648 and 534,481 respectively, according to NCEMA.There are currently 18,387 active coronavirus cases within the UAE and the total diagnosed cases since the beginning of the outbreak mounted to 554,516.Sunday’s numbers indicate a slight decline from Saturday’s 1,596 cases and four deaths.The UAE has vaccinated over 73 percent of its eligible population over the age of 16 and almost 80 percent of its senior citizens. NCEMA reported that as of Sunday, over 12 million vaccine doses had been administered since the rollout of the UAE’s immunization campaign in December 2020.Read more:UAE reports 1,596 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths in 24 hoursUAE vaccinates over 73 pct of people over 16 years old against COVID-19Dubai targets over 5.5 mln overseas tourists this year
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 1,591 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths in 24 hours

One of the most watched Ramadan series renews the debate on verbal divorce and marital rape in Egypt.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

An Egyptian archaeologist has launched an initiative to shed light on Cairo’s heritage by filming short documentaries about the various alleys and streets in the capital.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Documentaries explore Cairo’s old neighborhoods, alleyways

The US has removed the United Arab Emirates from its intellectual property watchlist after the Gulf country took steps to combat the trade of counterfeit goods, according to state news agency WAM.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Efforts to tackle the sale of counterfeit goods at Ajman China Mall and 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.The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention also resolved intellectual property concerns regarding pharmaceutical products, according to WAM.The country’s Federal Customs department also began publishing annual intellectual property enforcement statistics, increasing transparency.Publicly available statistics for 2019 showed that authorities made 63 seizures, confiscating 168,251 counterfeit items.A growth in ecommerce led to more seizures from mail shipments, which accounted for 31 percent of all seizures in 2019 according to the Federal Customs Authority.Fake handbags and wallets accounted for 29.85 percent of seizures in 2019, and 11.94 percent of seized goods were counterfeit mobile phones and accessories.The majority (29.8 percent) of counterfeit goods seized in 2019 came from the Philippines.Commenting on the announcement, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, said, “The USTR’s decision is encouraging news… Over the last year, we have worked hard to strengthen the UAE’s IPP framework in many important ways. This decision is an endorsement of our progress. “He also said the UAE “is committed to implementing robust IPP regulatory standards, including having an infringement and enforcement framework that upholds these standards.”Read more: UAE Public Prosecution warns against crime of forging currencyFake vaccines for COVID-19 selling for $1,000 on dark web: ExpertsAmazon blocked 10 billion phony listings in counterfeit crackdown last year
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE removed from US intellectual property watchlist

Spanish enclave in north Africa identifies 438 unaccompanied children and teenagers..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hundreds of child migrants crammed into warehouses in Ceuta

Abu Dhabi updated its green list countries to include six new nations, the city’s Department of Culture and Tourism announced on Sunday.Passengers arriving from the 29 countries on the list will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures upon arrival into the United Arab Emirates’ capital and will only need to take a PCR test at Abu Dhabi airport, according to a list shared by the official Visit Abu Dhabi website.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The green list countries now include: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Cuba, Germany, Greenland, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan (ROC), Tajikistan, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Uzbekistan.The green list was updated to add Germany, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Spain, Moldova and the US. No countries were removed from the previous list.People travelling from countries that are not on the list are required to quarantine for ten days and show a negative PCR test to board a flight to Abu Dhabi.Read more:Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC in early talks with investors ahead of drilling unit IPO: SourcesUAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed welcomes Gaza ceasefire in call with Egypt’s SisiUAE asks to host 2023 climate change conference COP 28
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Abu Dhabi adds six countries to green list, including US, UK, Israel