Middle East Experience

Russian media outlets reported that a first batch of the Su-35 fighter jets are en route to Egypt as part of a 2018 deal over which Washington threatened Cairo with sanctions.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt acquires Russian fighter jets despite US warning

Members of Beitar Jerusalem soccer team fan club La Familia are now demonstrating against anti-Netanyahu demonstrators and even chasing them away.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Far-right soccer fans attack anti-Netanyahu protesters

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon advances two development projects in East Jerusalem — in Issawiya and in Wadi Joz.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Can Jerusalem mayor improve situation of Arab residents?

Mexico, Spain, Italy, China and Australia are the most vulnerable from the coronavirus pandemic hurting their tourism industries, according to new analysis based on information from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).Coronavirus has hit tourism worldwide, with some countries’ economies more at risk than others depending on their reliance on tourism revenue.Now, a new report has revealed which countries are the most vulnerable – and which are more likely to be able to endure the blow to their tourism sectors.Using 2019 data about tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the world’s largest economies, German company Statista predicted that Mexico, Spain, Italy, China, and Australia are the countries most vulnerable to COVID-19’s impact on tourism this year.In Mexico, 15.5 percent of the country’s GDP last year was from the tourism industry. Spain and Italy rank second and third on the chart, with tourism accounting for 14.3 percent and 13 percent of their GDPs, respectively.Tourism contributed 11.3 percent to China’s GDP in 2019 and 10.8 percent to Australia’s GDP.Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Brazil round out the top 10 in Statista’s list of major world economies that most rely on tourism revenue.The cost of coronavirus: TourismThe Statista estimates are supported by current developments and reports from the countries themselves, as well as the European Union.The EU – which includes half of the countries on the Statista list – has estimated its tourism industry is losing around 1 billion euros ($1.17 million) in revenue per month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the European Parliamentary Research Service.“The situation is particularly difficult in several EU countries that are key tourist destinations, such as Italy, Spain and France,” according to the EU report published in April.Spain reported on Monday a 97.7 percent drop in tourism for the month of June compared to the same month last year, according to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics.Italy reportedly lost more than 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in July due to a lack of foreign tourists, according to a report by the Italian National Confederation of Farmers.Meanwhile in the US, the tourism industry’s 16.8 million jobs are in jeopardy due to COVID-19, according to the World Economic Forum.An estimated eight million Americans in the tourism business are already out of work, according to a report from the US Travel Association and Oxford Economics.Many countries on the list have proposed or enacted policies to support the recuperation of tourism industries, such as the Italian government’s stimulus package that will include assistance for the tourism sector and American senators introducing the Sustaining Tourism Enterprises During the COVID-19 Pandemic (STEP) Act.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has estimated that international tourism will decline 60 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic, with the potential of an 80 percent decline if tourism fails to pick back up until December.Read more:Coronavirus: First nurse in Lebanon dies from COVID-19 following death of doctorCoronavirus: COVID-19 patients only need to self-isolate for 10 days, says CDCAttacked, jailed, sentenced to flogging: Young woman reveals her life in Iran
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Report reveals countries most at risk from COVID-19 tourism impact

The United Arab Emirates has conducted over 5 million coronavirus tests as the recovery rate hits 90 percent — one of the highest globally — Health Minister and Prevention Abdul Rahman al-Owais announced on Sunday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.He also said that the health sector’s mass testing efforts have contributed greatly to the country’s success in containing the virus and reaching the high number of recoveries.However, not complying with preventative measures and socializing without physical distancing are the “biggest challenge in our fight against the disease,” al-Owais added.The health ministry confirmed 164 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours after conducted an additional 27,811 tests, raising the total number of cases in the UAE to 61,163.The number of recoveries increased to 54,863 after 248 individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus recovered.Meanwhile, the UAE reported zero new deaths for the third day in a row, keeping the death toll at 351.Read more:Iran's coronavirus death toll nearly triple what was officially reported: BBCSaudi Arabian designer dresses Beyonce in ‘Black is King’No appointments to enter Abu Dhabi via border COVID-19 test until Aug 23
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE COVID-19 tests exceed 5 million, recovery rate hits 90 pct

The lucrative annual Twenty20 tournament had originally been scheduled to start March 29 before it was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Indian Premier League to start next month in UAE

For more than 20 years, an obscure U.S. law concealed satellite imagery of Israel’s activities in the occupied territories. Because of an abrupt reversal, satellite…..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel Can’t Hide Evidence of Its Occupation Anymore

Lebanon confirms 177 new coronavirus cases, three deaths..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon confirms 177 new coronavirus cases, three deaths

A four-man cell crossed the Alpha Line into Israel and was planting bombs on the fence before being hit by air and ground forces.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel Defense Force (IDF) thwarts attack along Syria border fence

Gantz went on to describe the challenges Israel is facing in current times, both in terms of security on all fronts as well as the coronavirus crisis.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gantz at Home Front Command: 'Only a senseless enemy will test Israel'