Middle East Experience

Oman has confirmed a total of 21,071 coronavirus cases after the health ministry detected 1,117 new infections over the past 24 hours, the ministry announced on Friday.Of the new cases, 647 are foreign nationals and 470 are Omanis.Read the latest upates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Seven individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus have died, raising the death toll to 96 as of June 12, according to the health ministry.Meanwhile, 866 people have recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 7,489.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:UAE conducts 45,000 new tests, confirms 479 casesEU proposes reopening internal borders on June 15
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Oman cases surpass 20,000 after recording 1,117 new infections

Dubai has allowed the reopening of pools and the resumption of water sports activities as authorities continue easing coronavirus restrictions, according to a statement issued by the Dubai Sports Council on Friday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The mandate, based on the directives of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, is limited to hotel establishments, health club and gyms, recreation clubs as well as residential and commercial facilities. However, individuals, groups and businesses must adhere to a detailed list of preventative measures issued, according to the statement.Individuals will have their temperatures checked before entry and are required to maintain social distancing by keeping at least a two-meter distance from others at all times. Sunbeds and loungers must be placed with a two-meter distance between them. A four-meter distance should be kept between larger groups of up to five people.Shower facilities, lockers and changing rooms have also been permitted to reopen given they are cleaned and sanitized after every use, or once every hour, according to the statement. Establishments are not allowed to provide towels for visitors.“If the operators are unable to maintain the strict cleaning and sanitization regimes, and social distancing rules then these facilities must be closed,” the statement read.Pool staff are required to maintain a capacity of one person per four square meters in the pool, and they must enforce social distancing rules at all times.The United Arab Emirates slowly began lifting restrictions in recent weeks following 24-hour cufews that were part of a national disinfection program.Last week, Dubai allowed shopping malls and private sector businesses to operate at full capacity.In May, authorities allowed Dubai hotel beaches and outdoor tourism and sports activities for groups of five people or less following a period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Restaurants and shops have also been allowed to operate but only with a 30 percent capacity in order to maintain social distancing. Parking spaces available at malls were reduced to a 25 percent availability to limit the possibility of overcrowding. Beauty salons are allowed to operate but on an appointment basis only, offering only hair and nail services.Children under the age of 12 and adults over 60, as well as those who have preexisting conditions are not allowed to visit any public places or businesses for their own safety.Read more:Dubai to allow malls, private businesses to operate at full capacityDubai to reopen gyms, cinemas, resume economic activities starting May 27Dubai Crown Prince says emirate ‘ready to enter the post COVID-19 world’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai reopens swimming pools, resumes water sports activities

Saudi Arabia has confirmed 119,942 total coronavirus cases after detecting 3,921 new infections over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The Kingdom's recovery numbers continue to increase as well with 1,010 new recoveries recorded, raising the total to 81,029.Meanwhile, 36 people who had previously tested positive for the virus have died, taking the death toll to 893.Majority of the new cases were detected in the city of Riyadh, in line with the recent trend. The region of Jeddah had the second highest number of cases, followed by Mecca.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.On Tuesday, a health official warned 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.Saudi Arabia has been gradually easing restrictions throughout the country over the past several weeks. The Kingdom’s mosques are now allowed to open for Friday prayers but must open no more than 40 minutes before the prayer begins.Meanwhile, public sector employees throughout the country began to gradually return to workplaces on May 31 and are expected to fully return by June 14.Read more:Sports to resume in Saudi Arabia without fans from June 21Saudi Arabia installs PPE, sanitizer vending machines in Riyadh airportSaudi Arabia revises mosque timings for Friday prayers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia confirms nearly 4,000 new cases, total rises to 119,942

The project to build a dam on the Rufiji River in Tanzania, which is being carried out by a joint venture of Egyptian companies, proves wrong Ethiopia that has been claiming Cairo is standing in the way of development projects in Africa.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt’s project in Tanzania refutes Ethiopia’s accusations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the decision by US President Donald trump to sanction workers of the ICC, blaming the international court for fabricating accusations against the Jewish people.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Trump battling Netanyahu’s war against the ICC

The report by the UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration shows how virus-related restrictions have led to revenue and job losses for small and medium-sized businesses in Iraq.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: New report details damage to Iraqi economy during COVID-19 pandemic

The United Arab Emirates has detected 513 new coronavirus cases on Friday after conducting 44,000 tests over the past 24 hours, according to the government’s communication office.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Despite recording new cases daily, the ministry has also seen an increase in recoveries with an additional 712 individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus having recovered. The total number of recoveries in the UAE has reached 25,946.The government’s communication office also announced one new fatality, raising the death toll to 287.The UAE has so far detected 41,499 total cases as of June 12. There are currently 15,266 active cases in the country.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Restrictions eased, precautionary measures remain in effectThe United Arab Emirates slowly began lifting restrictions in recent weeks following 24-hour cufews that were part of a national disinfection program. However, travel in and out of Abu Dhabi remains suspended due to mass testing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.Dubai on Friday announced the reopening of pools and the resumption of water sports activities that were previously suspended due to the pandemic.Last week, Dubai allowed shopping malls and private sector businesses to operate at full capacity.In May, authorities allowed Dubai hotel beaches and outdoor tourism and sports activities for groups of five people or less following a period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite the easing of restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the virus, the health ministry continues to urge individuals to adhere to precautionary measures, wear a face mask, wash hands and maintain social distancing.Read more:Dubai reopens swimming pools, resumes water sports activitiesUAE launches new program for residents to return homeUAE hiring and jobs rates recovering after steep COVID-19 fall: LinkedIn
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE detects 513 new cases after conducting 44,000 tests

In an unprecedented op-ed at the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, UAE Ambassador to Washington and Minister Yousef Al-Otaiba calls upon Israel to retract from its annexation plan.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Senior UAE official warns Israeli public against annexation in op-ed

In a statement, the state-run Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said the four men were detained for their role in the death of Rafiki.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Popular 25-year-old Ugandan gorilla killed at UNESCO park

The most common conspiracy of the five studied in the report claims that “The ‘Jewish-controlled government’ is exploiting the virus to serve Jewish interests."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Far-right extremists spreading antisemitic conspiracies about COVID-19