The Arab Coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia towards civilian targets in Saudi Arabia's Najran Saturday morning, the coalition spokesperson said, according to official Saudi Press Agency.Arab Coalition Spokesperson Colonel Al-Maliki said that some civilians were slightly injured by falling debris but the attack did not result in any deaths.The missile was launched from the Yemeni city of Sa'dah, according to SPA, toward the southwestern Saudi Arabian city near the border with Yemen.The Arab Coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to try to restore the UN-recognized government to power in Sanaa, after it was ousted from the capital by the Iran-backed Houthis in late 2014.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.This marks the latest Houthi attack against Saudi Arabia, following sporadic missile attacks on various Saudi Arabian locations including Abha airport.Al-Maliki added that 312 ballistic missiles targetting the Kingdom have been intercepted as of June 13.In March, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen toward civilian targets in the cities of Riyadh and Jazan.Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian Military Industries said it was working on developing a new counter-drone system to protect the Kingdom's vital infrastructure and military bases.- With Reuters, Al Arabiya English's Ismaeel Naar contributed to this report.Read more:Houthi ballistic missiles intercepted above Riyadh, Jazan: Saudi ArabiaArab Coalition intercepts, destroys Houthi drones targeting Abha, Khamis MushaitSaudi Arabia developing new counter-drone system: SAMI CEO
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Houthi ballistic missile intercepted near Saudi Arabia’s Najran: Spokesman
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sees slight drop in daily cases with 3,366 new infections
Saudi Arabia saw a slight drop in its daily cases as the health ministry reported 3,366 new infections over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 123,308.The health ministry also reported 1,519 new recoveries on Saturday, taking the total to 82,548. Thirty-nine people who had previously tested positive for the virus have died due to complications, raising the death toll to 932.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.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.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.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Sports to resume in Saudi Arabia without fans from June 21Houthi ballistic missile intercepted near Saudi Arabia’s Najran: SpokesmanParts of Beijing locked down due to virus cluster linked to meat market
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sees slight drop in daily cases with 3,366 new infections
Lebanese PM alleges ‘coup attempt’ on his government failed
Lebanon’s prime minister – backed by Hezbollah and its allies – Saturday, lambasted protests that have rocked the country in recent days and alleged that a coup on his government had failed.As Hassan Diab addressed the nation, hundreds of protesters were in the streets of Lebanon calling for the government to resign.Protests resembling the nationwide anti-government protests that started last October erupted on Thursday and Friday after the local currency took a nosedive amid the unprecedented economic crisis and shortage of US dollars in the Lebanese market.But Diab said the “coup attempt has failed,” against his government.“Here lies the truth regarding the plan to manipulate the US dollar- Lebanese pound exchange rate, and here lie the secrets of the night of the coup against the October 17 uprising,” he said.He was referring to protesters that took to the streets and looted public property and set branches of banks on fire.Without naming anyone, Diab said that “some want to … prepare a new trick to dispose of people’s monies which they deposited and protected in the banks, and which have been transferred, by decision, to the State treasury which was wide open to robbers.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.While Diab’s government, in power since the beginning of the year, has failed to put a halt on the collapsing economic and financial situation in the country, he has consistently placed the blame on previous governments.Diab alleged that there were “secret and public meetings,” and deals made “on and under the table” to overthrow the process of corruption detection, which he says he will disclose “in due course.”Diab asked for more patience from the Lebanese and said, “We want to carry a unified national identity, chant one anthem, raise one flag, defend one nation, protect one people and [praise] the country, not a person, party, or confession.”Referring to the decision made on Friday to reopen the Rafik Hariri International Airport on July 1, Diab warned that the “current incidents” would lead to continued suffering and would not help the national economy.Saying he was confident that the crisis would be overcome, he called on people to refrain from “distorting the protests.”The Lebanese pound has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997 at a rate of 1,507 for one dollar. On Thursday and Friday the black market exchange rate jumped to 6,000 per dollar.The country has gone to the International Monetary Fund to ask for billions of dollars of aid. At the same time, a further $11 billion in soft loans and grants from the international community remains locked due to the government’s failure to implement specific reforms.Reuters has reported that unemployment has reached 35 percent, while the coronavirus pandemic further exacerbated Lebanon’s dire situation.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanese PM alleges ‘coup attempt’ on his government failed
Iran prepared to retaliate if US stops Venezuela-bound tankers
"After increasing military threats against Iranian vessels headed for Venezuela, an order was issued to Iran's armed forces to identify and track several US merchant vessels."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran prepared to retaliate if US stops Venezuela-bound tankers
AstraZeneca to supply Europe with 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Deliveries will start by the end of 2020
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: AstraZeneca to supply Europe with 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Iyad al-Hallak's mother accuses police, gov't of burying video
"If it were an Arab shooting a Jew, the video would have been published worldwide the same day."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iyad al-Hallak's mother accuses police, gov't of burying video
Coronavirus: 100 percent back to work for public sector employees in Dubai on June 14
Dubai has announced that public sector employees will be allowed to return to work at 100 percent capacity from Sunday June 14 after the gradual easing of measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.The decision came in accordance with directives issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.Employees would be expected to adhere to preventative measures against the coronavirus such as wearing face masks and keeping social distancing of two meters , the government announced.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Earlier, the government issued a list of people who will be exempt from returning to their offices, and will have to continue to work remotely.The list includes pregnant women, people of determination, people with compromised immunity and chronic illness such as asthma and diabetes.Elderly employees and women who have to look after children under the grade 9 level or children with disabilities are also exempt from returning to the offices.On June 7, 50 percent of public sector employees in the United Arab Emirates were allowed to return to work.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates detected 491 new coronavirus cases with a slight drop from a day before, bringing the total number of infections to 41,990.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: 100 percent back to work for public sector employees in Dubai on June 14
Armenia assuages Iran's concerns over its embassy opening in Israel
The Armenian ambassador to Iran Artashes Tumanyan assured the Iranian Foreign Ministry that Armenia remainscommitted to its relationship with the Islamic Republic.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Armenia assuages Iran's concerns over its embassy opening in Israel
Alleged cop-killer writes ‘Boog’ in blood, referencing extremists
On June 6, Steven Carrillo allegedly murdered one police officer and injured another before writing cryptic messages in blood. Is he the face of the new extreme right?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Alleged cop-killer writes ‘Boog’ in blood, referencing extremists
Coronavirus: Dubai private schools can open sports academies, football pitches
Dubai private schools can reopen the sports academies and coaching clinics based on their grounds provided they follow COVID-19 guidelines, announced the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) on Sunday.The announcement allows the use of school facilities for football, tennis, volleyball, basketball, running, fitness, and swimming.Authorities had previously closed all sports facilities to limit the spread of coronavirus in the UAE, but have recently reopened gyms and football academies.However, children below 12 and adults above 60 will remain prohibited from taking part in these sports activities at private academies.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appRead more: Coronavirus: Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus reopen Dubai football academiesGuidelines issued by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management will also be in place.“The academies, among other things, will have to make sure they maintain the hygiene and sanitization requirements as mandated by authorities, which includes maintaining a regular cleaning regime, and ensure safe distancing is maintained at all times,” said DSC in a statement.Academies that want to resume their coaching and training activities need to apply to the DSC via the link: www.dubaisc.ae/sportspermitundercovid19.Read more:Dubai authorities discuss safe return of fans to athletic eventsCoronavirus: Football, music stars to compete in FIFA for Saudi esports charity eventCoronavirus: Am I allowed to leave Abu Dhabi? UAE movement ban questions answered
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai private schools can open sports academies, football pitches