Middle East Experience

The prime minister’s decision to send military reinforcements to Iraq's border ports last year seems to have made officials feel safer and reduced revenue-siphoning corruption.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraqi border crossings better protected as cells attempt desert attacks

Egyptian officials have been expressing concern over the anticipated competition from the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline project that would transport Emirati oil to Ashkelon in Israel and from there to European markets.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt concerned UAE-Israeli pipeline project will affect Suez Canal

The UAE reported on Tuesday 17 new coronavirus deaths, the highest since the start of the pandemic, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) data showed.The Ministry of Health also reported 3,310 new COVID-19 infections and 3,368 new recoveries on Tuesday. The country’s coronavirus tally now stands at 332,603 confirmed cases, 313,060 recovered patients and 947 deaths.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.The numbers of daily infections in the UAE has been rising since the beginning of January, crossing the 2,000 threshold for the first time on January 6, and the 3,000 mark on January 12.The UAE continued its efforts in ramping up its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, giving out 113,495 doses in the last 24 hours, to reach 4,527,144 as a total number of doses and with a rate of 45.77 doses per 100 people as vaccine distribution.Health authorities in the country highlighted the precautionary measures taken and the imposition of penalties on violators amid a rise in infections. The NCEMA had said the country would witness “more stringent procedures against violators in the coming period.”Dubai tightened at the beginning of February coronavirus restrictions on entertainment and leisure venues and activities, shutting down bars and reducing capacities at malls and hotels.The travel and tourism hub also recently updated its travel protocols, limited the number of people allowed in social gatherings and suspended elective medical procedures.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Dubai tightens coronavirus restrictions: Closes bars, reduces mall, hotel capacityUpdated rules: Dubai ramps up coronavirus restrictions amid rising cases in UAECoronavirus: UAE COVID-19 daily cases near record 4,000 infections, uptrend continues
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports highest coronavirus daily death toll since beginning of pandemic

The UAE's Mars "Hope" Probe successfully entered the planet's orbit on Tuesday in a first for the Arab world, making the UAE the first Arab country to reach the Red Planet."To the people of the UAE, to the Arab and Muslim nations, we announce the succesful arrival to Mars orbit. Praise be to God," said Omran Sharaf, the mission's project manager.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Mission controllers at the UAE’s space center in Dubai announced that the unmanned craft, called Amal, Arabic for Hope, reached the end of its nearly seven-month, 480 million kilometers journey and began circling the red planet, where it will gather detailed data on Mars’ atmosphere.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai said: "Mission accomplished." He had said on Monday the attempt to enter Mars orbit had a 50 percent chance of failing."This is the farthest point in the universe to be reached by Arabs throughout their history... More than five million working hours by over 200 Emirati male and female engineers. Our goal is to give hope to all Arabs that we are capable of competing with the rest of the world," he added.Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces said: "The entry of the Hope Probe into the orbit of Mars is a significant accomplishment in our nation’s history. This achievement was made possible by the Emirati pioneers whose work will inspire future scientists and engineers for generations. We are immensely proud of them."The orbiter fired its main engines for 27 minutes in an intricate, high-stakes maneuver that slowed the craft enough for it to be captured by Mars’ gravity.After the engine firing, it took a nail-biting 15 minutes or so for the signal confirming success to reach Earth. Ground controllers rose their feet and broke into applause. Tensions were high: Over the years, Mars has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries.About 60 percent of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars’ thin atmosphere.Amal’s arrival puts the UAE in a league of just five space agencies in history that have pulled off a functioning Mars mission. As the country’s first venture beyond Earth’s orbit, the flight is a point of intense pride for the oil-rich nation as it seeks a future in space.For days, landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark Amal’s anticipated arrival. This year is the 50th anniversary of the country's founding, casting even more attention on Amal.- With The Associated PressRead more:Mars Hope Probe 50-50 chance on orbiting, but history already made: UAE VPHope Probe: Arab landmarks turn red across the Middle East to celebrate UAE’s missionHope Probe: UAE visitors to receive ‘Martian Ink’ passport stamp upon arrivalCountdown begins as UAE’s Hope probe nears Mars in first Arab interplanetary mission
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: 'Mission accomplished': UAE Hope Probe successfully enters Mars orbit

China recently ratified an extradition treaty with Turkey that was signed years ago, raising fears among the Uighur community that they could be sent back to the country they fled..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Uighurs stage protest outside Chinese Embassy in Turkey

The United Arab Emirates celebrates as its Hope mission makes it safely into orbit around Mars..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Emirates Mars Mission: Hope spacecraft enters orbit

Alaa Bliha, 27, rose to fame with videos of herself imitating famous figures from across the Arab world and beyond..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Jordan make-up artist lightens lockdown with celebrity impressions

Cabinet is expected to meet to approve a decision that would open up preschools, kindergartens and grades 1-4 in yellow and green cities only.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coronavirus: Which students will go back to school this week?

Hope for a reset in Turkish-American ties under the Biden administration will remain unrealistic until Ankara addresses its democratic issues and human rights record.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: New page for US, Turkey reads like fantasy

The four men who were released from Hamas prison are Sami al-Tawil, Kamal Shehadeh, Ala’ Qassem and Abdel Nasser Abu Issa.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas releases Fatah prisoners to facilitate Palestinian elections