Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reported 353 new coronavirus cases and five deaths, bringing the total to 376,021 cases and 6,475 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The number of recoveries in the Kingdom rose by 280 to 367,015.The capital, Riyadh, reported 186 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, while the Eastern Province had 67 cases, and Mecca had 43.There are 2,531 active coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia, the health ministry said, 483 of which are critical cases.Read more:Saudi Arabia records 327 COVID-19 cases, five deaths, 318 recoveriesMore than 17 million Saudi residents have used the Tawakkalna COVID-19 app: SPASaudi Arabia reports 335 COVID-19 cases, four deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia detects 353 COVID-19 cases, five deaths

Saudi Arabia’s sustainable megacity NEOM will be the “most active place on the planet,” said NEOM’s sports director Neal Coupland.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.NEOM aims to have 75 percent of the city’s residents exercising for at least three hours per week, making use of easily-accessible facilities in an urban environment that will be designed from the ground-up to encourage healthy living.Situated on the Red Sea coast, NEOM will also have a stadium that is the “most flexible, most iconic venue on the planet,” as well as adventure sports attractions such as deep sea diving and hiking, Coupland explained.Billed as a city with “zero carbon emissions” by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, car travel is set to be eschewed in favor of walking and cycling.One strategy to win the hearts and minds of car-loving Saudis is a partnership between NEOM and the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, involving a graduate program in which young people will be taken to England for specialist training in electric vehicle driving, engineering, and marketing.Coupland told Al Arabiya English that the program will “encourage young Saudis to get involved in the electric motor racing industry, and that might mean they become a journalist, commentator, event manager, or team manager. There are an awful lot of roles that go around with that industry.”Key to the city’s success, Coupland said, is the balance between developing the landscape into a commercially-viable destination while retaining the natural beauty of the environment.A team of more than 30 environmental experts is ensuring that the sporting developments stay in line with the city’s green and sustainable ethos. Coupland said that one project, for example, was built and then later torn down as it was deemed not to meet the standards of blending in with the natural environment.“It is a difficult thing to get right,” he said, “Because there’s always going to be commercial pressure for numbers to increase and therefore you need infrastructure to accommodate them.”One strategy to mitigate the environmental impact of deep-sea diving is to limit visitor numbers and instead offer virtual dives by using augmented reality goggles.“Young people can get a real feel and understanding of what life’s like under the ocean without us having to throw thousands of people down there and try to take some money off them, and then pick up the pieces 20 years later,” said Coupland.“We’re learning, I hope, from things that have happened previously around the world and setting off with a completely different mindset.”NEOM is one of three megaprojects unveiled as part of the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 strategy, the Kingdom’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and prepare for a post-hydrocarbon age. Other plans in the works include a tourism hub on the Red Sea, and Qiddiyah, an entertainment hub near Riyadh.Read more: NEOM’s THE LINE to ‘change the way people live, work, travel:’ ExpertNEOM’s ‘THE LINE:’ An environmentally friendly, car-free city in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince reveals project ‘THE LINE’ in futuristic city of NEOM
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: NEOM sports director says megacity will have ‘most active’ population on the planet

An American-Egyptian mission recently uncovered an ancient brewery that paints a vivid picture of beer in ancient Egyptian life.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt uncovers brewery that served pharaohs

As Erdogan teeters between the West and the Russia-China axis, it will be his goal of securing his political future at home that determines which direction he takes.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: West-East dilemma closes in on Erdogan

Israel is working on regulations similar to European efforts to protect small businesses that advertise on Facebook and Google.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel develops new regulations for Google, Facebook

The United States has around 3,000 troops in Saudi Arabia and it will continue to help Riyadh boost its defense capabilities as attacks from Iran-backed groups ramp up, the top US military commander for the region said Wednesday.Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said that the US “prizes” its relationship and bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia. Since 2019, the US has deployed several air defense systems in the Gulf power.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.These include a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, two Patriot missile batteries and others, McKenzie said during a webinar with the Beirut Institute.Washington has also worked with Saudi Arabia’s air defense systems to improve their capabilities as well as to integrate air and missile defense systems.“We are working to integrate [Saudi Arabia’s systems] with those of [its] neighbors in the region and with ours,” McKenzie said.Fighter squadrons are constantly in Saudi Arabia on a “rotating basis,” he added.Asked about Yemen and increased attacks by the Houthis, McKenzie said the US was aware of the “ramp-up in Houthi attacks in the last 30 days” against Saudi Arabia.“This is significant, and these things are not helpful to coming to a peaceful solution in Yemen.“It is my belief that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does seek a negotiated political solution in Yemen, and these attacks don’t help,” the US general said. He also noted that the weapons launched from Yemen “hand Iranian fingerprints all over them.”Read more:UN envoy: Yemen’s Houthis threaten peace, but US offers ‘new opportunity’Biden’s rushed US policy moves on Yemen could backfire, analysts say
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US working to integrate Saudi Arabia’s missile defense system with neighbors: CENTCOM

Mousa Abu Marzouk said that Gazans 'should not stand by and watch as our natural resources go away' after the Palestinian Authority and Egypt signed a deal on Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hamas official demands details of Egypt-PA deal to develop Gaza gas field

The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia announced, on Wednesday, the issuance of a Royal Decree enabling Saudi women married to non-Saudis to travel with their husbands or join their husbands who are abroad after presenting proof of marriage to officials at the departure points directly, as well as Saudis married to non-Saudi women if they are residing outside the Kingdom due to work or other conditions that do not enable them to come to the Kingdom.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Passports stated that if a Saudi citizen is unable to present documents that prove the wife’s presence outside the Kingdom and her inability to come to the Kingdom, he can apply for a travel permit through “Absher” electronic platform and attach all the required documents, to facilitate the procedures of obtaining a travel permit.The Ministry of Interior announced on February 2, the temporary suspension of entry of non-citizens, diplomats, and their families coming from 20 countries in the context of preventive measures against the outbreak of the COVID-19.”Read more:Saudi Arabia signs $40 mln WFP agreement to prevent famine and malnutrition in YemenSaudi Arabia moves up global women inclusion rankings: World BankSaudi Arabia detects 353 COVID-19 cases, five deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi citizens married to non-Saudis can now travel through border points

The administration insists it can succeed where two U.S. presidents already tried and failed..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Can Biden Fix the U.N. Human Rights Council?

The conviction of Eyad Al-Gharib is a historic moment for Syrian victims of torture..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Syrian activists welcome Germany's historic Syria regime torture conviction