Middle East Experience

Prisoners' rights group CNLD says around 80 people, including activists, social media users and journalists, are currently in custody in connection with the country's anti-government protest movement or individual liberties..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Algerian online activist's jail term cut to one year

An AFP reporter at the scene saw a mangled car ablaze, black smoke billowing into the sky..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Car bombs kill 11 in Turkish-held north Syria: monitor

On January 15, PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the parliamentary election would be held on May 22.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: PA arrests Hamas supporters ahead of elections

Recently circulated reports have suggested that the Nipah virus has the potential to become the next global pandemic. However, data by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Nipah reportedly infected only 600 people in 17 years.The Nipah virus, which was first identified in an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998, infected approximately 600 people between 1998 and 2015, according to WHO.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.Meanwhile, the coronavirus infected over 100 million people worldwide in a year's time. Health officials warn the number of confirmed cases is only a fraction of the real number of infections around the world.The WHO organization defines a pandemic as "an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people."Nipah, a zoonotic virus - transmitted from animals to humans, causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis, according to WHO. The major outbreaks were due to transmission from bats and pigs.The WHO has said in 2018 Nipah was a public health concern because it infected a wide range of animals and caused severe disease and death in people. However, "Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia," it added.Countries which have been affected by Nipah in the past include: Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh and India. Other countries, WHO identifies as "maybe at risk for infection" include: Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand."Infected people initially develop symptoms including fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis," the WHO said in a report."The case fatality rate is estimated at 40 percent to 75 percent. This rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management," it added.WHO does rank Nipah as one of its priority diseases for research and development in public health emergency contexts. The WHO's list prioritizes diseases which "pose the greatest public health risk due to their epidemic potential and/or whether there is no or insufficient countermeasures." But the list is not exhaustive and "does not indicate the most likely causes of the next epidemic."An NGO funded by UK and Dutch governments, Access to Medicine Foundation, highlighted in a January 26 report that there were no medicines or vaccines in the pipeline for Nipah, which it described as posing a "pandemic risk."The executive director of the NGO, Jayasree K Iyer, was quoted by The Guardian as saying: "Nipah could blow any moment. The next pandemic could be a drug-resistant infection."On Sunday, a Jordanian infectious diseases consultant said there was no need to panic over Nipah. "Nipah does not live up to the ferocity of the coronavirus," Roya News quoted Dirar Balawi as saying.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:A new pandemic? Here’s what happened the last time Nipah virus spreadNipah virus in China with up to 75 pct fatality rate could be next pandemic: ReportNipah virus: How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Nipah virus infected 600 in 17 years, coronavirus hit 100 million in 1 year: WHO data

Envoys of the United States and United Arab Emirates discussed new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fight against climate change on Sunday, agreeing to set up bilateral groups to accelerate progress toward global climate goals.Read more: US President Biden discovers limits to his power in dash to erase Trump's legacyUS Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber “agreed to set up bilateral working groups…to advance their shared agenda, accelerate progress toward global climate goals and contribute to regional and global sustainable development,” according to Emirati state news agency WAM.Al Jaber told Kerry during the virtual conversation that the UAE “welcomes the new US administration’s sharpened focus on climate change,” WAM reported.Kerry said he is looking forward to “strong and productive collaboration” with the UAE on technology, investment, and regional leadership.Read more: US ‘proud to be back’ in climate fight, Kerry tells leaders“I look forward to strong & productive collaboration on tech, investment, and regional leadership as we work together to ensure global action on deep decarbonization,” Kerry said in a tweet.US President Joe Biden tapped Kerry for the presidential climate envoy position – the first of its kind in the US - in November.Kerry previously held the position of Secretary of State under President Barak Obama and helped broker the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.Biden signed an executive order on January 20 for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, which predecessor President Donald Trump withdrew the country from in 2020.Al Jaber was appointed to the position of UAE Special Envoy for Climate by the government cabinet in November.Both climate envoys are set to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference later this year.Read more:How the new global politics of climate change will affect the Middle EastParis says Biden, Macron in agreement on COVID-19, climate changeUAE to grant citizenship to investors, professionals in bid to attract talent
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US, UAE climate envoys to advance collaboration on technology, investment

Due to the military budget deficit and in a bid to absorb the anger of loyalists and army soldiers, the Syrian regime decided to scale down the readiness of its army and armed forces.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Why Assad is scaling down military readiness across Syria

The United Arab Emirates on Monday reported 2,730 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases to 306,339, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The country also reported 4,452 recoveries, bringing the total to 281,410.The death toll in the UAE rose by nine to 859.WAM reported that 127,572 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.Authorities in the UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi have updated the rules on entering the emirate from within the country effective from February 1, according to an official statement.The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said that UAE citizens and residents in the country will be allowed to enter Abu Dhabi within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR test result. A mandatory PCR test must be taken on the fourth day of entry for those who stay for four days or more, and on the eighth day for those staying eight days or more.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates over 3 mln people as infections surge rapidly Coronavirus: UAE reports decrease in cases with 2,948 COVID-19 infections
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports 2,730 COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths

The number of patients admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19 in Oman has doubled over the past 11 days, according to the country’s Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Mohammed al-Saidi, who urged people to adhere to rules and regulations.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“Before January 21, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care was 51, and the number rose two days ago to reach 102 patients,” al-Saidi said on Monday during a press conference.He added that as of yet, there are six confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain.“Laws approved by the Supreme Court are still in effect,” he cautioned. “The doubling of the number of inpatients within eleven days is a very worrying and dangerous sign.”COVID-19 infections are currently on the rise globally. The total number of infections worldwide has surpassed 100 million, according to AFP.Oman has begun its vaccination drive, aiming to vaccinate the first target group by mid-2021, said the minister.Al-Saidi then went on to state that those who have already taken the Pfizer vaccine would not be able to take the British AstraZeneca vaccine as a second dose.“The Sultanate is one of the first countries in the world that was able to obtain the AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said.“Some think that they will be immune to the virus once they have received the vaccine, but they must adhere to the precautionary measure. So far, no unexpected or unusual side effects have been reported in the Sultanate as a result of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” he added.The ministry’s director of infection, prevention and control, Dr. Amal Saif Sulaiman al-Maani cautioned that keeping the vaccine at temperatures that are lower than required would only lead to a decline in the vaccines’ effectiveness.She also said that reaching herd immunity would require the vaccination of at least 60 percent of the population.“To achieve societal immunity, we would need to vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population, ensuring that we start off with 20 percent of those who are at a higher risk,” said al-Maani. “There are mutations of the virus that are even more dangerous, even for young people.”There are 96 suspected cases of the new COVID-19 strain, according to al-Maani, however those will not be confirmed until the sequencing of the strain is verified.The minister called on the “young people to raise awareness and alert their peers and families about the pandemic situation. A lot of activities will be affected by the resurgence of the numbers and we do not want the situation to worsen.”Read more:Oman launches national COVID-19 vaccine campaignOman extends land border closure until February 8Oman bars expats from certain jobs amid economic downturn due to coronavirus
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oman health minister urges compliance amid two-day COVID-19 spike

Almost two years since its territorial defeat, the terror group still has access to $100 million in cash reserves, according to the US government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Islamic State relies on money transfers from sympathizers in Turkey, Iraq: Report

The Egyptian government has laid the foundation stone of a massive project to build the Cairo Eye, the fifth-largest in the world, as part of efforts to boost tourism.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Cairo Eye aims to turn Egypt into global tourism hub