Middle East Experience

US envoy David Hale called for a thorough and transparent investigation into Beirut's massive explosion..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US envoy calls for 'transparent, credible' Beirut blast probe

Pets are “much more likely” to catch the new coronavirus COVID-19 disease from humans than to infect their owners, according to a recent Science magazine report.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.“Almost all pets that have tested positive have been in contact with infected humans,” Chief Veterinary Medical Officer at the University of California, Davis Jane Skyes was quoted as saying.According to the report, “A genetic study of the viral sequences in the first two dogs known to have COVID-19 indicates they caught it from their owners.”The report also mentioned tigers and lions who were infected at the Bronx Zoo in New York City in April in which it appeared that the animals contracted the virus from humans.Even though researchers warn that there was “limited testing” since most pets that were tested lived with humans who were positive for the virus, “most researchers think pets pose little risk to people – and to other pets as well.”Skyes added that “everything we’ve learned so far suggests that it’s unlikely that pets are a significant source of transmission,” noting that multiple reports show that households had one pet test positive for COVID-19 while others were unaffected.Science magazine also reported that the “few studies” that showed cats can transmit the virus to other cats were all conducted in artificial laboratory settings, meaning there is no significant evidence that cats naturally infected other cats.There is also no clear evidence on how many pets have been infected with the virus. However, an estimated 3 to 4 percent of cats and dogs had been exposed to the virus in Italy “at the height of the pandemic there – comparable to the rate among people,” Science magazine reported citing a serological preprint.COVID-19 symptoms in petsIf pets do become infected with the new coronavirus, they are likely to experience “mild to nonexistent” symptoms, according to Science Magazine.A pet health insurance company reported that “it has not seen an increase in respiratory claims – or any other type of health claim [in pets] – since the pandemic began.”According to two studies, Science magazine reported that cats are unlikely to show symptoms.“My gut sense is that [the disease is] much more minor that we’re seeing in people,” Skyes was quoted as saying.However, some scientists suggested that pets not showing symptoms could mean they are “silent transmitters of the virus,” according to Science magazine. The report however added that “there’s no direct evidence of this.”Read more:Can my pet cat infect me with COVID-19?Can animals infect humans with COVID-19? Scientists study farm outbreaksCats can spread coronavirus, cat-to-human COVID-19 transmission possible: Researchers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Pets ‘more likely’ to catch COVID-19 from humans than infect people

There are no appointments available for a rapid COVID-19 laser test at the Abu Dhabi border until September 3, according to the Quantlase Lab website checked by Al Arabiya English on Sunday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Visitors and residents arriving from Dubai, or any of the other five emirates, are required to present a negative coronavirus test before being granted entry into the emirate of Abu Dhabi.When authorities first shut the land border in June, people had to conduct a PCR test and wait for results before driving up into the capital. In mid-July, a rapid laser testing center was set up at the border where individuals can take advantage of the test that produces results within five minutes.Due to high demand, authorities in mid-July required bookings for the border laser test.By Monday, August 3, the earliest available appointment was August 23. As of Sunday, August 16, the earliest available slot is now 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9.In effort to ease the demand for the border laser test, four additional facilities were set up in other emirates: two in Dubai, one in Fujairah and one in Ras al-Khaimah. Appointments can be booked through the SEHA app, according to the Abu Dhabi Health Services website.The capital first banned entry and exit on June 2 as part of its measures to contain the virus. Individuals are now allowed to leave the emirate but must present a negative coronavirus test result in order to be granted entry.Read more:Entering Abu Dhabi now requires booking appointment for a COVID-19 testAbu Dhabi implements laser screening for entry amid COVID-19 lockdownAbu Dhabi border run eased by four new COVID-19 laser testing centers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: No COVID-19 Abu Dhabi border test available until September 3

Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index jumped 6.1 percent in July compared with a year earlier, boosted by a tripling of value-added tax, official data showed on Sunday.The inflation rate in June was 0.5 percent, the smallest annual increase since January, before the VAT increase to 15 percent from 5 percent came into effect on July 1.The jump in annual inflation reflected price increases in most categories, the General Authority for Statistics said. Food and transport were major contributors, rising by 14.6 percent and 7.3 percent respectively.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Jason Tuvey, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a research note that “the pass-through from the VAT hike may be relatively more limited compared with when the tax was first introduced in 2018. Even so, we expect Saudi inflation to jump to 5.5-6.0 percent year on year this month and remain around this level for much of the next year.”Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, said in May that it would triple VAT as it sought to shore up finances hit by the twin shock of low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.Read more:Saudi Arabia appoints 10 women to senior roles within the Two Holy Mosques presidencySaudi Arabia coronavirus: Distance learning for first 7 weeks of new academic yearCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports drop in COVID-19 cases with 1,413 new infections
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s inflation jumps 6.1 percent following VAT tax hike

While Egyptians voted this week for members of the newly created Senate, many experts say the elections will not bring about change in Egypt’s political sphere as most candidates have the approval of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Apathy dominates Senate elections in Egypt

The UAE confirmed on Sunday that a phone link has been set up with Israel following a historic agreement between the two countries.UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi “inaugurated a phone link between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel following the historic Peace Accord,” said UAE Director of Strategic Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hend Al Otaiba in a post on Twitter on Sunday.Telephone calls between the UAE and Israel are now unblocked.The Israeli news website The Times of Israel was also available in the UAE on Sunday, after being previously blocked in the country.On Thursday the UAE and Israel announced a peace deal to normalize relations between the countries, in exchange for the Israeli government halting its annexation of Palestinian land.Known as the “Abraham Accord,” the diplomatic agreement between the UAE and Israel is Israel’s first peace treaty with an Arab country in 25 years.Israeli and Emirati delegations will meet in the coming weeks to establish bilateral agreements on a range of issues including telecommunications, tourism, and healthcare.Read more:Eight moments that led up to the UAE’s agreement with IsraelUS will ‘continue to support’ Israel, UAE in future peace talks: WH official‘Great news for peace’: Former Israel, US officials react to historic UAE-Israel deal
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Phone calls open between UAE and Israel, websites unblocked after agreement

Over 60 percent of parents in the UAE are confident about sending their kids back to physical classrooms, a survey published Sunday by shopping group Centrepoint and conducted by YouGov found.Schools in the UAE are set to restart August 30, and children will be allowed to attend physically if parents choose to allow it. The KHDA, Dubai’s private school sector regulator, has mandated that schools need to offer distance learning in addition to normal physical schooling.Schools have individually come up with their own solutions that have been inspected by the authorities. The survey found that while a majority of parents are confident about sending their children back to the classroom, only half are comfortable sending their kids back to school every day if 100 percent attendance is mandatory.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.“The nationwide school closures in spring and the distinctive rise of online learning due to COVID-19 has dramatically transformed the education systems and enforced educators to rethink their learning models. Going back to school won’t look the same this year,” Simon Smith, chief operating officer at Centrepoint said in a statement.Hygiene and safety was ranked as the top concern by parents regarding sending their kids to school with 64 percent of those surveyed noting it as an important concern. The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine came second, with 52 percent, and assessing school reopening guidelines and plans ranked third, with 46 percent.Schools were closed in the UAE in March as the coronavirus pandemic began to spread. In response, distance learning initiatives were set up by schooling authorities to continue at-home learning.A majority of parents, 62 percent, said that the biggest challenge during distance learning has been keeping children motivated and engaged, while 51 percent noted the difficulties of multitasking and balancing work from home with their children’s distance learning.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE studies reopening schools, universities, issues COVID-19 regulationsCoronavirus: UAE schools to restart August 30, says ministerCoronavirus in UAE: Public school students sit for centralized smart tests on May 4
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Most UAE parents confident in sending kids to school, survey finds

The killing of Iraqi border guards in a Turkish drone strike undermines Baghdad’s traditional flexibility toward Ankara at a time when Turkey’s Arab adversaries are seeking to draw Iraq to their side.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: What does deadly drone strike augur for Turkish-Iraqi ties?

The normalisation project between Israel and the UAE is a killer for the two-state solution, Saeb Erekat said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel-UAE normalisation 'a killer' for two-state solution: Palestine

The Jewish Agency says that it received some 90,000 calls in the first half of 2020 requesting information on aliyah, including a 31% increase in inquiries from western countries.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jewish Agency: Israel to have 250,000 olim over next five years