Middle East Experience

Some 3% of Israelis do not make sure to wear a mask when leaving the house.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Do Israelis prefer a disposable or reusable mask?

Washington plans to reestablish diplomatic missions with the Palestinian Authority and defend Israel from "bias" at the UN.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: US envoy previews Biden's Israeli-Palestinian policy at the United Nations

Iran has imprisoned a number of dual citizens of the United States and European countries on disputed charges.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iranian-American sentenced to prison, allegedly without a trial

Iran’s foreign minister was in Moscow to discuss a range of issues with Russian officials in his first such meeting after the inauguration the new administration in Washington.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran’s FM in Moscow to discuss post-Trump policy

For many, 2020 was a write-off for international travel, as coronavirus-induced lockdowns, border closures, restricted flights and uncertainty around whether residents could return home with ease ruled-out plans to visit exotic destinations.However, with the rollout of vaccinations and many countries getting a handle on the pandemic, 2021 may offer blue skies on the horizon for international travel.From isolated escapes, adventure holidays and sun-soaked destinations, these are the countries that have opened borders, are COVID-safe – and are easy to travel to.Soak up the sun in the SeychellesWith less than 1,000 cases reported to date by the Seychelles Nation’s news site, the country, floating near the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, had an early handle on the pandemic, shutting its borders early.It began allowing some international tourists in last year, including those from the UAE, and is also rolling out a mass-vaccination program.Between a four-and five hour flight from most GCC countries, the archipelago - renowned for its white sandy shoreline, pristine azure ocean and lush green hills - offers travelers an abundance of laid-back leisure.And added bonus: the tourist-dependent nation is helping jump start its tourism industry by getting rid of any quarantine requirements for incoming visitors who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 – up to now, visitors had to self-isolate at their hotel for ten days. Visitors will need to submit an “authentic certificate from their national health authority.”By March, the country will further relax its rules as it expects to have about three quarters of its adult population vaccinated by then. Once that happens, the country will grant entry to all – regardless of vaccination status – just as long as they can show a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.Discover the pyramids in EgyptWith quarantine a big decision-factor in booking holidays, relieved travelers find there are no such rules at present to visit the country of the pyramids. All international travelers to Egypt are required to present a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure.While Egypt is still reporting hundreds of new cases every day, the country has launched a huge vaccination drive this week and there is plenty of things to do whilst avoiding crowds.Attractions include the Pyramids in Giza (which are likely to be less packed with tourists than usual), a plethora of museums, some of the best diving in the world at the famed Red Sea, some of North Africa’s best hiking trails, and spectacular beaches. Cairo’s highly-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum - more than a decade in the making – is also slated to open this summer.Unwind in the MaldivesWhile this holiday comes with a bigger price tag than most, the archipelago is just a four-hour flight from many GCC countries and reporting just a handful of coronavirus cases each day – mainly on the mainland of Male.Passengers traveling to the Maldives as tourists must have a confirmed hotel reservation for their stay and must present a negative PCR test result within 96 hours of travel.Upon arrival, inbound travelers will be granted a 3-day tourist visa and be exempted from having to self-isolate.For those who still prefer to social distance – this isn’t a worry here as most island resorts in the Maldives were built with privacy in mind.Travelers will be spoilt for choice as many of the islands have received approval by the tourism ministry to reopen; each one offering views over the turquoise horizon palm trees, luxury and year-round sunshine.Watch the wildlife in KenyaKenya resumed international flights from August 1, 2020, with no mandatory quarantine in place for certain countries including the GCC.Within 96 hours of departure you must have conducted a PCR test.The country so far has reported fewer than 100,000 cases of coronavirus, but for those still concerned about the virus, there are plenty of places to visit in the remote wilderness of the East Africa country; which encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley, coral reefs and mountain highlands.Famous for its safaris, including Nairobi National Park and Samburu National Park, where visitors can expect to see zebras, rhinoceros, lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalos, hippos, and more.Go diving in TanzaniaCurrently reporting no new cases, Tanzania is open for international tourists and, while you must present a negative PCR test, doesn’t require any self-isolation or quarantine.While there is plenty to do in this East Africa country, one of Tanzania’s biggest selling points are its aquarium-like conditions making it one of the most premier dive destinations in the world - especially at spots such as Pemba and Zanzibar - where you can spot an array of underground life, including whale sharks.Chill on a Caribbean islandSlightly further afield, travelers wanting to really get away from it all can head to the Caribbean; a place famed for its beaches, nature trails, diving, mountainous peaks and idyllic picture-postcard views.Most islands such as Antigua, the Bahamas and Barbados have now reopened to international tourism, with protocols in place to protect visitors and residents against COVID-19.While there is no quarantine, there will be monitoring (such as temperature checks) for 14 days after arrival and a negative PCR test is required. Face masks are required in public but not at beaches or pools.Read more:Coronavirus: Log on in paradise under Hawaii incentive scheme for remote workersCoronavirus: Seychelles rolls out COVID-19 vaccinations: president’s officeCoronavirus: UAE citizens, residents allowed to travel to international destinations
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Pack your passport: The top ‘coronavirus-safe’ destinations of 2021 for GCC residents

A group of volunteers is providing shelter for animals that were wounded due to the shelling or those abandoned by their owners and putting them in a sanctuary that was built in Idlib in northern Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Meet the Syrian who saved cats from regime shelling

Bahrain will suspend dine-in services at restaurants and cafes and move public and private schools to remote learning for three weeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Wednesday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The ministry said it had detected a new variant of coronavirus in a number of cases, without specifying which kind. The new lockdown measures will come into effect on Sunday.There has been an uptick in coronavirus cases in the Gulf kingdom since December. The country registered 459 new cases on Wednesday, adding to a total of nearly 100,000 since the start of the pandemic, with 370 deaths.The small island state has the third highest rate of vaccinations per capita in the world so far, according to the Our World in Data website, which is run by an Oxford University research program.Bahrain offers its citizens either the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one manufactured by Chinese state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm free of charge.The kingdom also approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for emergency use.Read more:Coronavirus: Pfizer delays Bahrain’s vaccine delivery for JanuaryBahrain will likely need further fiscal support from Gulf neighbors, says FitchBahrain approves Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Bahrain stops indoor dining, moves schools to remote learning to contain COVID-19

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reported 216 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases to 367,023, according to the Ministry of Health.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The number of recoveries in the Kingdom rose by 205 to 358,545, while the death toll rose by four to 6,363.Riyadh reported 84 new COVID-19 cases, while the Eastern Province had 45, and Mecca had 43 cases.Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said on Tuesday his country was talking to manufacturers to provide COVID-19 vaccines to low-income countries including Yemen and African states.“We are negotiating with a lot of the vaccination companies to provide more vaccinations particularly to low income countries,” Mohammed al-Jadaan told the virtual World Economic Forum in Davos.Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health said that coronavirus vaccination centers across the country are witnessing a “great turnout from all members of society of all groups,” facilitating the process of obtaining the vaccine.Read more:Saudi Arabia in talks to provide COVID-19 vaccines to low income countries: MinisterCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 223 COVID-19 cases, 4 deathsCoronavirus: Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 216 COVID-19 cases, four deaths

Iranian forces are concerned about losing their influence and their members in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province in favor of the formations supported by Russia.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Is Russia exploiting Iranian weakness in east Syria?

Saudi Arabia will become “another Germany” in the renewable energy sector, converting 50 percent of the Kingdom’s energy reliance to renewables, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Wednesday during a speech at the fourth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) summit in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.“Whatever we will be doing in Saudi Arabia will be supporting emissions reduction, the economic case for it is huge. [Saudi Arabia] is being looked at as a reasonable and good international citizen, because we will be delivering much more, I would argue, than many European countries in the next years,” Prince Abdulaziz added.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appSaudi Energy Minister added that Saudi Arabia would convert and create more hydrocarbon uses and will be recycling its emissions, and it will be pioneering in blue hydrogen and green hydrogen. The Minister added that many European countries are lining up to partner with Saudi Arabia in those programs. “The Saudi government is committed to the issue of emission neutrality. A serious young team is working on ways to convert hydrocarbon molecules to different uses,” he added.Prince Abdulaziz added that the transformation would save hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil. “We have initiated a price reform program, we have been very mindful of the issue of climate change, we improved our resilience in terms of mitigating to climate change,” he added. “Not only are we committed to Paris Climate Agreement, but we are also actually going to make a lot of use of it, and it will be a good successful agreement for us because it would bring us lots of economic growth and diversification,” he concluded.Read more:FII conference to host speakers in ‘futuristic settings’ using new technologySaudi Arabia’s FII: World leaders to discuss building a strong economy post-pandemicSaudi Arabia’s fourth FII conference will focus on ‘reimagining the global economy’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia will be ‘another Germany’ in renewable energy sector: Prince Abdulaziz