Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia confirmed 3,183 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 223,327, the health ministry announced on Thursday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 364 were detected in the city of Riyadh while 247 were in Dammam. Jeddah had the third highest number of cases with 246.The Kingdom's death toll increased to 2,100 after 41 fatalities were recorded. Meanwhile, 3,046 individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 161,096, according to the health ministry.There are 60,131 active cases in Saudi Arabia as of July 9.The Kingdom has the highest number of cases in the Gulf region. Neighboring Qatar has the second highest with 101,553 total number infections, according to a Johns Hopkins tally.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Dubai’s Emirates resumes flights to 6 more cities, bringing total to 58Natural herd immunity ‘unethical’ and ‘unachievable,’ says Lancet studyArab Coalition destroys two bomb-laden boats belonging to Iran-backed Houthis: SPA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia COVID-19 cases reach 223,327, death toll 2,100

Ethiopia has recently accused Egypt of unilaterally using Nile River waters via a project approved in 1995; Cairo says upstream countries are not affected and that it has all the rights to use the Nile waters.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Tensions escalate between Egypt, Ethiopia with no end in sight of Nile dam dispute

The second wave of the novel coronavirus is affecting the IDF, which has ordered 10,000 soldiers into quarantine.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli army hit hard by coronavirus

Although the aim of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, known as the Caesar Act, is to sanction Syrian President Bashar Assad and his regime, experts warn that it could deepen the suffering of Syrians without guaranteeing the fall of the Assad regime..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Experts fear Caesar Act would make Syrians suffer, not topple Assad fall

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri Thursday accused President Michel Aoun and the government of contemplating a change in the country’s free economic system in favor of another system, in the latest diatribe against the ruling class..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hariri: Aoun mulling economic system change

Tehran's mayor has said in an interview that low voter turnout among….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iranians' dissatisfaction with government a 'threat for everyone', says Tehran mayor

Instagram's parent company Facebook admitted Bella Hadid's post should not have been taken down, apologising to the Palestinian-Dutch supermodel..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Instagram apologises to supermodel Bella Hadid for censoring picture of Palestinian father's passport

Dubai Airports resumed scheduled operations of 13 international airlines at Dubai International Airport (DXB), after it started welcoming back tourists as coronavirus restrictions in the Gulf tourism hub are eased, the emirate’s media office reported on Thursday.The foreign airlines resuming operations at DXB are: Air Blue, Air France, Cebu Pacific, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Middle East Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Royal Jordanian.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.The Dubai Media Office (DMO) said that more airlines are “expected to join later,” adding that Dubai-based airlines Emirates and flydubai “have boosted their schedules.”Dubai said on June 21 that it will allow its residents and citizens to begin traveling to international destinations starting from June 23, and that there will be no restrictions on overseas destinations, provided that the country of destination “agrees to receive them.”It also added that it will welcome back international tourists through its airports from July 7.CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths said on Thursday: “We have ensured everything is in place to welcome airlines from around the world back to Dubai as a growing number of bilateral agreements between countries conclude to facilitate the opening of borders and the gradual return of traffic.”He added: “We remain in close discussions with government officials and airlines to support the resumption of additional services as approvals are granted in the weeks and months ahead. The message is that we are ready to welcome visitors back to Dubai and we will do our utmost to take care of them whilst they are here.”DMO stressed the importance of coronavirus precautionary measures such as wearing masks and gloves, temperature checks, social distancing and arriving to the airport two hours ahead of the flight to allow for screening measures.“In order to maintain public safety and physical distancing requirements, travelers without confirmed tickets, passengers without proper protective equipment, and passengers who arrive to the airport earlier than 4 hours before their scheduled departure time will not be permitted to enter the terminal buildings,” DMO added.Air travel and tourism have been one of the hardest-hit sectors internationally by the coronavirus pandemic, with many governments worldwide shutting their borders, restricting travel, banning tourism activities, and imposing curfews and lockdowns.The UAE had suspended all passenger and transit flights to and from the country on March 23 as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Dubai open for tourists: All you need to know about coronavirus air travel protocolsUAE travel rules amid coronavirus: Top questions answered if you are planning to flyCoronavirus: Emirates lays off more pilots, crew in latest job cuts, sources say
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai resumes flights of foreign airlines as it welcomes back tourists

Young Israelis and the country's middle class are facing the biggest economic crisis Israel has ever experienced as the pandemic's second wave crashes.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s middle class sags as aid package delayed

The United Nations says millions of Syrian civilians depend on the humanitarian aid delivered from Turkey.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russia fails again at UN ahead of last-ditch Syria cross-border aid vote