Middle East Experience

A line-up of experts, change-makers and industry leaders will join forces during the week..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Expo 2020 Dubai to discuss solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss

"It’s about meeting our consumers where they need us to meet them," head of Coca-Cola’s innovation and marketing operations Cathy Coetzer said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coca-Cola discontinues low calorie soft drink line Tab amid coronavirus

Caretaker Public Works Minister Michel Najjar announced Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus, making him the second Lebanese minister to catch the virus since it was first detected in the country in late February..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanese minister Michel Najjar contracts COVID-19

The first ever passenger flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel landed near Tel Aviv on Monday, a month after the countries signed an agreement normalizing ties.Etihad Airways flight EY 9607 from Abu Dhabi landed at Ben Gurion airport early in the morning with only crew on board, a spokeswoman for the Israel Airports Authority told AFP.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The plane picked up Israeli tourism professionals, who would be flying to the UAE for a two-day trip visit organized by Israeli company Maman Group, the spokeswoman said.The UAE carrier said it had made “history”. “Etihad has become the first Gulf airline to operate a passenger flight to Israel. And this is only the beginning,” the airline said on Twitter.Etihad planes had landed in Ben Gurion with medical supplies in May and June to help the Palestinians cope with the coronavirus pandemic.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The Palestinians, who object the agreement Israel forged with the UAE, refused to receive the aid.In August, Israel and the UAE announced that they had reached a US-brokered deal to normalize ties, following years of discreet economic and security cooperation.Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, ratified the UAE deal last week.The UAE and Israel were due on Tuesday to sign an agreement to have 28 weekly commercial flights between the countries, a transportation ministry official said.In Manama on Sunday, Israel and Bahrain signed a deal to establish relations, making the UAE and Bahrain only the third and fourth Arab states to normalize ties with Israel, following Israel’s 1979 peace deal with Egypt and a 1994 pact with Jordan.Read more:Israeli tourism, travel, media representatives to visit UAEIsrael, UAE to sign agreement for 28 flights per week, ministry says
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: First Emirati passenger plane lands in Israel from UAE

The United Arab Emirates’ coronavirus tally continues to rise with 915 new cases detected in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 116,517, the Ministry of Health and Prevention reported on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Health officials had been detecting over 1,000 new infections daily since October 5. On Saturday, health officials said that the highest number of new cases – 1,538 new cases – was recorded.Three people died due to complications caused by COVID-19, which raises the virus-related death toll in the country to 466.Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries climbed to 108,811 after 1,295 people recovered from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai to allow weddings, social events to resumeWorldwide coronavirus cases surpass 40 mln: Reuters tally
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE’s coronavirus tally continues to rise with 915 new cases, three deaths

The United Arab Emirates’ Council of Ministers, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, adopted the Israeli peace deal – the Abraham Accords – to normalize ties between the two countries, the UAE Government announced on Monday.“The Council of Ministers headed by Mohammed bin Rashid adopts a resolution ratifying the Abraham Accords… and orders the initiation of constitutional procedures to issue a federal decree ratifying the agreement.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The cabinet expressed its confidence that the deal will help pave the way for peace and stability in the region as it strengthens bilateral relations, the government said.Israel and the UAE had in August announced that they reached a US-brokered deal to normalize ties. Israel’s parliament ratified the UAE deal last week.The UAE is only the third Arab states to normalize ties with Israel, following Israel’s 1979 peace deal with Egypt and a 1994 pact with Jordan.Read more:First Emirati passenger plane lands in Israel from UAEIsraeli tourism, travel, media representatives to visit UAE
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE Cabinet approves peace deal with Israel

While cases of the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia have decreased in recent weeks, the Kingdom could see a rise in infections if countermeasures are not followed, health minister Dr. Tawfik al-Rabiah said on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Several countries are currently witnessing a second wave of COVID-19 infections, largely due to people not adhering to preventative measures and not wearing a mask, the minister said.The Kingdom has reported less than 400 cases a day since Thursday. The total number of confirmed infections in Saudi Arabia is 342,583.Saudi Arabia will secure a vaccine as soon as a safe and effective one becomes available, al-Rabiah added.The minister urged the public to remember that the actions of a few individuals could affect hundreds of other people in the country.“We ask everyone to cooperate by applying health precautions and not being complacent. We are all in the same boat, and the failure of some affects everyone,” he said on Twitter.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia allows citizens, residents to pray in Grand Mosque in MeccaCoronavirus: Up to 250,000 pilgrims allowed to perform Umrah from Oct. 18
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia may see a rise in coronavirus cases if measures ignored: Health minister

Many Israeli Arabs disagree with the stance taken by the Arab Joint List against the normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli-Arab lawmakers reject normalization deal with Emirates

Ankara’s decision to test-fire its controversial Russian missiles, overriding US warnings, appears driven by a combination of motives related to its ties with both Washington and Moscow.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turkey approaches point of no return on employing Russian air defense system

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Kash Patel traveled to Damascus in an effort to secure the release of Americans hostages including Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: White House official traveled to Syria for secret hostage talks