Middle East Experience

The UAE recorded 388 new coronavirus cases after 40,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted, which brings the total number of confirmed cases in the UAE to 43,752, the government announced on Thursday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Meanwhile, 704 people recovered from the virus, raising the total number of recoveries to 30,241.Two people died of the complications due to the coronavirus on Thursday, according to the health ministry. This brings the virus-related death toll to 298.The rate of infection has been “considerably” falling in the country in the last three weeks, the Head of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif said on Tuesday.Dubai has been gardually easing its coronavirus restrictions, which are aimed at allowing economic and social life to return to normal. Gyms, fitness centers, malls, and swimming pools have been allowed to operate at full capacity.The government has also issued a list of countries that UAE residents and citizens will be allowed to travel to staring from June 23.Read more:Coronavirus: Countries UAE citizens, residents can travel to starting from June 23Coronavirus Q&A: 10 questions answered as Dubai eases its lockdown further
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE records drop in cases as recoveries surpass 30,000

Dubai’s Emirates announced 10 more cities as destinations as the airline slowly begins expanding its network following a period of shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.The announced cities are: Colombo (from June 20), Sialkot (June 24), Istanbul (from June 25); Auckland, Beirut, Brussels, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (all from July 1); and Barcelona and Washington DC (all from July 15), Emirates said in a statement.All of the airline’s flights from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Pakistan will only carry outbound passengers to the UAE and onward destinations, Emirates added.Emirates will also be adding flights to other cities in July the statement said.These cities are: London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York JFK, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong.The announcement follows news on Wednesday that the UAE would be easing restrictions on residents and citizens and will allow them to travel to some countries starting from June 23.“The UAE government's recent announcement to ease travel for UAE citizens and residents show the thorough approach that our country is taking with regards to resuming economic activities, and as we gradually return to regular services, Emirates' number one priority will always be the health and safety of our customers, our crew and our communities,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Chief Commercial Officer said in the statement.Last Thursday, Emirates said it would be adding Cairo, Egypt, to its list of destinations, following an announcement on the previous Tuesday that the airline would be adding flights to Kabul, Afghanistan from June 25.In addition to Kabul, Emirates has previously announced flights to Bahrain, London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York JFK, Chicago, Toronto, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Perth and Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Manila, the statement read.Travelers from Pakistan are also able to book flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.On Tuesday, the airline’s COO told Al Arabiya that Emirates plans to open “air bridges” with countries in Europe, allowing travelers to visit countries across the continent without quarantine.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai’s Emirates plans air bridges to Europe for quarantine-free travelCoronavirus: Dubai’s Emirates airlines resumes flights to and from BahrainCoronavirus: Dubai’s Emirates announces four flights to Cairo, Egypt from June 14
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai’s Emirates adds 10 destinations including to Lebanon, Vietnam

The July 1 deadline is too short a period for a learning curve and Israel’s leaders will wait until the last minute to decide whether to go for a small or large annexation — or none.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Will Israel learn from its past leaders when it comes to annexation?

Saudi Arabia reported 4,757 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 145,991, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Most of the infections were detected in Riyadh, where the ministry recorded 1,442 new cases.Mecca recorded 399 cases, Jeddah reported 300, while the other new infections were recorded in cities and provinces across the Kingdom.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Forty-eight people died of COVID-19 on Thursday, the ministry said. This brings the total number of virus-related deaths in Saudi Arabia to 1,139.Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries rose to 93,915 after 2,253 people recovered from the virus.Return to normalcy Returning to normalcy does not mean that the pandemic is over, health ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said on Thursday.“The virus is still there, the virus is active, the pandemic is still there, and there is still no vaccine. Research is ongoing, and we are hopeful. Treatment protocols are constantly being updated,” he said.“A return to normalcy is now possible, but must be done with caution,” al-Abd al-Ali added.Earlier this month, the health ministry spokesman had said that the number of active coronavirus cases and the virus-related death toll in Saudi Arabia is rising because several members of the public continue to ignore preventative measures.He urged citizens and residents to continue to adhere to precautionary measures.Read more:Coronavirus: Resuming international flights to, from Saudi Arabia under review Fear of catching coronavirus negatively impacts mental health: Saudi Health Minster
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 4,757 new COVID-19 cases as death tolls rises

Over the years, and again this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been blaming the media for going after his wife in order to hurt him.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu's popularity undamaged by accusations against his wife

Restoring the parliamentary system makes a nifty slogan for the Turkish opposition, but the panacea for the clogged political establishment is more demanding.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Is Turkey already done with executive presidency?

Turkey and Iran are conducting operations against Kurdish groups in the country.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: UAE condemns Turkish and Iranian military interventions in Iraq

Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata and Deputy Public Security Minister Gadi Yevarkan, both of Ethiopian origin, are reinforcing their battle against police brutality.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Inspired by US protests, Ethiopian-born Israeli ministers battle against police brutality

Israeli CyberArk company has released a new research that points at a decade-old vulnerability in the Windows Group Policy Object (GPO) software.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Decade-old vulnerability discovered in Windows' Group Policy application

Sea turtles are laying their eggs and burying them deep in the sand on beaches across the country.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Volunteer rescues sea turtle eggs from hungry fox in Ashkelon