Middle East Experience

Over 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The health ministry spokesman said that 4,053,069 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country as of March 28, double the number of vaccine doses administered earlier this month.There are over 587 vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia, and that more vaccination centers across the country will soon be open, the spokesman said, adding that there is a high demand for vaccine registration.He also urged people in the Kingdom to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the “Sehhaty” application.Nationals and residents can register through the application for the vaccine, which is available free of charge.Workers in certain fields in the Kingdom will be required to take a PCR test every seven days at the expense of their employer if they are not vaccinated, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing announced last week.Saudi Arabia on Sunday reported 531 new coronavirus cases amid a continuous increase in the daily number of infections.Read more:Saudi Arabia records 531 new COVID-19 cases amid continuous increaseSaudi Arabia requires PCR test every week for some unvaccinated workersCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia opens COVID-19 vaccine registration via Sehhaty app
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Over 4 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Saudi Arabia: MOH

Egyptian policy involving East Africa takes a new turn, focusing on economics.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt eyes economic foothold in Djibouti

The United Arab Emirates recorded 2,128 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of active cases to 15,010, the country’s National Emergency and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) reported on Sunday.NCEMA reported that 230,734 COVID-19 tests were carried out since Saturday, bringing the total number of diagnosed cases since the beginning of the outbreak to 455,197.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Four people died from COVID-19 due to complications, and 2,243 people recovered from the coronavirus, state news agency WAM reported.Sunday’s numbers brought the UAE’s COVID-19 death toll to 1,481, and recoveries to 438,706.The country has bolstered its vaccination drive in recent weeks and now registers over 7.9 million administered vaccine doses.Read more:Mexican Researchers make nose-only mask to ‘reduce risk of COVID-19 while eating’UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed, Chinese FM discuss regional developmentsUAE reports 2,304 new COVID-19 cases, five deaths in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE registers 2,128 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths

He also thanked the Jewish community for the opportunity to repair ties after "the stain of antisemitism" on his party.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UK Labour leader wishes Jews a happy Passover

The senior Hamas official did not mention the names of the countries that reportedly approached the PA president.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas: Arab countries asked Abbas to scrap elections

Catch all the updates live here..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Dubai World Cup: Mishriff wins the Longines Dubai Shema Classic

For the second year in a row, the government of Saudi Arabia has maintained high levels of confidence as one of the most trusted governments in the world, according to the results of Edelman’s 2021 Trust Barometer report.The levels of confidence in the performance of Saudi Arabia’s government increased from 78 percent in January 2020 to 82 percent in January 2021, adding to its balance 4 percentage points that qualified it to be at the forefront of the 28 countries included in the index as the highest government in the world with confidence in its performance.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.According to the report, China shared the top spot with Saudi Arabia at 82 percent while the UAE came in third place at 80 percent in terms of trust in government.The 2021 Trust Barometer is Edelman's 21st annual trust and credibility survey. The research, conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI), surveyed a sample of more than 33,000 respondents in 28 markets, including Nigeria for the first time, this year.According to the report, Saudi Arabia’s government remains the most trusted institution in general, outperforming the other categories including businesses, up by 73 percent, NGOs at 61 percent, and the media at 60 percent.“The government in the Kingdom had the highest ranking internationally in the context of its handling of the biggest health challenge the world witnessed, represented by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing medical care, coronavirus detection devices and vaccines to citizens and residents for free, as well as its leadership of the efforts of the international community in the issue of developing vaccines and supporting medical research and experiments,” the Saudi Press Agency said in a report following Edelman’s release of the trust report.Edelman’s 2021 Trust Barometer revealed that although the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated personal and societal concerns, worries about job loss and climate change have overtaken those linked to the coronavirus.“The past year was no doubt marked by uncertainty and a decline in trust in information sources, with one in two people citing their employer communications as the most believable source of information above traditional media, and just after government communications,” said Omar Qirem, CEO of Edelman Middle East.“However, retaining and increasing this trust in 2021 will be directly linked to how organizations, and their leaders, take action to meet these new societal needs, where reskilling and upskilling and a purpose-driven attitude will be crucial,” Qirem added.Read more:Saudi Arabia ranks 1st in Arab world, 21st globally in 2021 World Happiness ReportSaudi Arabia ranks third in Ipsos global happiness survey of 27 countriesSafest countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia rank in top 10 of Gallup Law and Order Index
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s government tops Edelman’s 2021 Trust Barometer report

The mouth could play role "in transmitting SARS-CoV2 to the lungs or digestive system via saliva laden with virus from infected oral cells."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Why does COVID cause taste loss? New research: virus infects mouth’s cells

Key hurdles are size and weight of container vessel, which is as tall as a 20-storey block of flat..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tugs, tides and 200,000 tons: experts fear Ever Given may be stuck in Suez for weeks

Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) combat aircrafts and crew members arrived in Pakistan’s Mushaf Air Base on Saturday to participate in the 2021 Air Excellence Center Exercise, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.RSAF Tornado combat aircrafts will take part in the exercise along with US Air Force and Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the host country, according to SPA.Saudi Arabia’s Military Attache to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Major General, Pilot P.S.C Awad bin Abdullah al-Zahrani, received the RSAF participants upon their arrival.The participation of the RSAF in the exercise “aims to support cooperation” between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the Commander of the RSAF group participating in the exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Faih bin Abdul Rahman al-Roqi, said, according to SPA.Earlier this month, units from the RSAF started the Falcon Eye 1 drill maneuvers exercises with their Greek counterparts on the island of Crete.The drill started with several sorties from both Royal Saudi Air Force's F-15C fighters and Hellenic Air Force's F-16, Mirage 2000 and F-4 Phantom fighters.Read more:Royal Saudi Air Force in Greece for joint air drills over the Mediterranean SeaRoyal Saudi Air Force begin Falcon Eye 1 drills in Greece over the MediterraneanSaudi Royal Air Force fighter jets escort B-52H bombers across Kingdom airspace
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Royal Saudi Air Force aircrafts arrive in Pakistan for Air Excellence exercise