The United Arab Emirates on Sunday reported an increase in its daily coronavirus cases with 3,579 infections recorded, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).The total number of cases in the country rose to 277,955.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The UAE reported nine new deaths on Sunday, raising the death toll to 792.The number of recoveries rose by 4,166 to 251,484.Dubai has issued tighter restrictions on weddings, restaurants, gyms, and social gatherings, the Dubai Media office announced on Friday, amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.WAM reported that the UAE had conducted 179,117 COVID-19 tests in the past 24 hours.Dubai has postponed its Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination campaign for people scheduled to receive their first dose of the vaccine, amid a global supply shortage of the dose, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced on Saturday.Abu Dhabi's Department of Health on Sunday approved three new COVID-19 tests, including one that provides results in 20 minutes, Abu Dhabi Media Office said.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai temporarily postpones Pfizer vaccine campaign amid global shortageCoronavirus: Abu Dhabi approves three new COVID-19 testsCoronavirus: UAE cases continue to increase with 3,566 new COVID-19 infections
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports increase with 3,579 COVID-19 cases
Oman bars expats from certain jobs amid economic downturn due to coronavirus
Oman announced Sunday it will bar expatriates from certain jobs in an effort to create more employment opportunities for its citizens amid an economic downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic.In a region that depends heavily on cheap foreign labor, expats in the sultanate make up about 40 percent of the country’s 4.5 million-strong population.Faced with an economic slump and a sharp drop in oil revenues, Oman and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have stepped up efforts to create jobs for their own citizens.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“A number of jobs in the private sector will be nationalized,” the Omani labor ministry announced on Twitter on Sunday.It added the work permits of foreigners in those professions will not be renewed after their expiry date.Various jobs in insurance companies, shops and car dealerships, including finance, commercial and administrative positions, will be “limited to Omanis only,” the ministry said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Work as a driver, “no matter what the vehicle,” will also be reserved for citizens, it added.In April 2020, Oman ordered state-owned companies to accelerate the process of replacing foreign staff with Omani nationals, especially in senior positions, to create more jobs for citizens.The finance ministry at the time said large numbers of expatriates still occupied managerial posts in state-run firms.Since 2014, the oil-rich Gulf region has been hit hard by falling crude prices, suffering a new blow amid the global economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.Oman and fellow GCC states Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have sought to diversify their economies and integrate millions of new graduates into their workforces.All have introduced legislation to give nationals preference over foreigners in both the public and private sectors.More than 25 million foreigners live in the Gulf, making up the majority of the populations in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.Read more:Coronavirus: Oman extends land border closure to curb COVID-19 outbreakOman to start cutting utility subsidies in January Oman sultan’s eldest son Dhi Yazan to succeed him, becoming first crown princeOman discusses plans for replacing expats with locals in government firmsCoronavirus: More than 270,000 expatriate workers left Oman this year
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oman bars expats from certain jobs amid economic downturn due to coronavirus
Syrian FSA fighters graduate from universities after years out of school
Factions of the Free Syrian Army are supporting their fighters to return to school and graduate, as part of efforts to promote education among their fighters.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian FSA fighters graduate from universities after years out of school
Qatar Airways hiring in UAE: Here are the vacancies
The airline is resuming flights to the UAE after normalisation of ties with the GCC countries..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar Airways hiring in UAE: Here are the vacancies
UAE to establish embassy in Tel Aviv in Israel: Cabinet
The United Arab Emirates on Sunday approved establishing an embassy in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel, the UAE government said on its Twitter account, citing a cabinet decision.The UAE and Israel in September of last year signed a historic bilateral agreement, called the Abrahams Accord, at the White House in Washington.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Along with establishing diplomatic relations, the UAE and Israel agreed to promote investment and tourism, as well as launch direct flights connecting the two countries.(With Reuters)Read more:UAE’s Emirates Post adds Israel to its network of operations: WAMGulf states, Israel demand seat at Iran nuclear deal negotiations: UAE DiplomatUAE-Israel visa exemption deal postponed over coronavirus worries
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE to establish embassy in Tel Aviv in Israel: Cabinet
Covid-19: Dubai shuts 2 gyms, 1 department store for violations
The authority also fined 28 entities for violating precautionary measures..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Covid-19: Dubai shuts 2 gyms, 1 department store for violations
‘The release of six decades of fear’: Egypt’s lost revolution
25 January 2011 marked the start of Hosni Mubarak’s fall but also moves by the military to take over..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: ‘The release of six decades of fear’: Egypt’s lost revolution
US to deploy Israeli ‘Iron Dome’ rocket interception system in Gulf countries
The US is to deploy the Israeli-manufactured Iron Dome rocket interception system, used against Palestinian factions before, in bases in Gulf countries..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US to deploy Israeli ‘Iron Dome’ rocket interception system in Gulf countries
Iran rejects South Korea's request for Qatari mediation – Doha News
Tehran says it does not find a need in mediating with Seoul, as the dispute is a “technical” one. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that his country is not going to accept political mediation in resolving the case of the South Korean oil tanker as it is a “technical issue”, the Iranian Students’ ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran rejects South Korea's request for Qatari mediation – Doha News
Could an Israeli mutation undo Israel’s mass vaccination campaign?
Mutations could increase the ability of a virus to become more infectious, could render the virus more pathogenic.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Could an Israeli mutation undo Israel’s mass vaccination campaign?