Middle East Experience

The approval to provide the tablets in China that treat the deadly neurological disease is the second in the world after the United States.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva receives Chinese approval for new Huntington's treatment

Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, has been released on bail following her arrest Sunday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt releases, on bail, editor-in-chief of prominent independent news outlet

Amiram Ben-Uliel's actions sparked outrage among both Palestinians and Israelis, but his lawyers questioned the conditions under which he confessed to the crime.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli man found guilty of murder in 2015 arson attack on Palestinian family

The FBI cracked the iPhone encryption of the Royal Saudi Air Force trainee who killed three American sailors in a December attack at a naval base in Florida, and found evidence linking him to al-Qaeda, Attorney General William Barr said on Monday.The shooter, Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed al-Shamrani, 21, also wounded eight people before being killed by law enforcement during the December 6, 2019, attack. He was on the base as part of a US Navy training program designed to foster links with foreign allies.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Justice Department succeeded in unlocking the encryption on the shooter's iPhone after Apple Inc declined to do so, Barr told reporters on a conference call. Apple later disputed his version, saying it cooperated to the extent that its technology allowed.“The information from the phone has already proved invaluable,” Barr said.Barr called on Congress to act forcing Apple and other tech companies to help law enforcement agencies get through encryption during criminal investigations.“Apple's decision has dangerous consequences,” Barr said. “Many of the technology companies that advocate most loudly for warrant-proof encryption... are at the same time willing to accommodate authoritarian regimes.”Apple defended its practice. “It is because we take our responsibility to national security so seriously that we do not believe in the creation of a backdoor — one which will make every device vulnerable to bad actors,” Apple said in a statement. “There is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys, and the American people do not have to choose between weakening encryption and effective investigations.”In February, an audio recording purporting to be from the terrorist group al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack but provided no evidence.Prior to the shooting spree, the shooter had posted criticism of US wars and quoted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on social media.“The Pensacola attack was actually the brutal culmination of years of planning,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Monday, adding that evidence showed al-Shamrani had been radicalized by 2015.Barr has said the Saudi government did not have any advanced warnings of the shooting.The Saudi Embassy in Washington said in a statement it welcomed the recovery of intelligence from al-Shamrani's phone and it was continuing to provide full support to the investigation.“The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its sincerest condolences to the American people on the tragedy that unfolded in December at Pensacola, Forida, and welcomes the announcement by US law authorities of the recovery of critical intelligence from the assailant’s telephones,” the Embassy’s statement said.“Saudi Arabia will continue to use every means at our disposal to counter the men, mindset and money of terrorist that enables AQAP and others to recruit followers and threaten communities, or even entire nations.”The Embassy also said terrorists have previously attacked the Kingdom’s people, military and “even Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.”Read more:Saudi Arabian shooter believed to have acted alone in US Navy base rampage: FBISaudi Arabia to cooperate with FBI on Pensacola shootingSaudi Crown Prince phones Trump, expresses condolences over Pensacola shooting
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: FBI intelligence links Saudi military student to al-Qaeda: Attorney General

A nurse in Saudi Arabia has died after a battle with the new coronavirus, according to a ministry of health statement.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.Khaled Abdullah al-Husseini, 43, died on Sunday after contracting the virus a month ago, according to local media reports. The nurse developed symptoms including difficulty breathing and was then admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator, according to reports.Al-Husseini reportedly developed acute kidney damage and was diagnosed with diabetes a few weeks prior, al-Husseini’s brother told a local media outlet.Read also: Saudi Arabia reports 2,593 new cases, majority in Riyadh, MeccaHe had been a nurse for 15 years and most recently worked at King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Mecca.Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah extended his condolences to the al-Husseini’s family on Twitter as did many others who shared their thoughts and prayers for the late hero using an Arabic hashtag in honor of al-Husseini.The Kingdom has so far recorded 57,345 coronavirus cases as the relatively low death toll reached 320 as of Monday, according to the health ministry. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries continues to increase with 28,748 having recovered so far.Read more:Saudi Arabia's low death rate below 0.7 pct, compared to global 7 pctCoronavirus ban on family gatherings, weddings, funerals remains, says Saudi officialSaudi Arabia reports 2,593 new cases, majority in Riyadh, Mecca
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabian nurse dies after COVID-19 battle

The United Arab Emirates conducted an additional 38,000 coronavirus tests over the past 24 hours, which confirmed 873 new cases, raising the number of confirmed cases to 25,063, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The UAE's daily recovery toll has surpassed the number of daily cases confirmed with 1,214 recoveries, raising the total number to 10,791 so far.The ministry also announced that three people who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 have died due to complications. The death toll in the country, however, remains relatively low with 227 total fatalities.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appThe UAE has the third highest number of cases in the GCC, with Qatar having the second and Saudi Arabia confirming the highest number of cases in the region. However, the country was the first in the wider Middle East to record a coronavirus case, a 73-year-old Chinese woman on January 29. The announcement was followed shortly by several other cases, most of whom were also Chinese tourists.The government recently began easing restrictions throughout the country but on Monday released a list of stricter fines for those who violate preventative measures still implemented.Meanwhile, the national disinfection program hours were also adjusted, extending the nationwide curfew times by two hours. Starting on Wednesday May 20, the new timing for the disinfection drive will begin at 8 p.m. daily and last till 6 a.m. until further notice.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Authorities have also adjusted hours of operation for malls and shopping centers which now be open from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m.Individuals over the age of 60 and children under 12 are still banned from entering malls, shopping centers and grocery stores.Read more: Coronavirus: All you need to know about UAE’s revised fines for violating rulesUAE to expand nightly curfew by two hours starting May 20
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE’s 38,000 COVID-19 tests detect 873 new cases, total passes 25,000

Saudi Arabia has confirmed 2,509 new coronavirus cases after conducting 16,140 new tests over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 59,854 cases, according to the health ministry.Health Ministry Spokesman Dr. Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali also announced nine new fatalities, raising the Kingdom’s relatively low death toll to 329.The health sector's coronavirus treatment protocol, extensive testing and active screenings have helped the Kingdom maintain its relatively low death rate of less than 0.6 percent, Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah said earlier this month.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Meanwhile, an additional 2,886 new recoveries were recorded taking the total to 31,634, according to the spokesman. More than 50 percent of those who became infected in Saudi Arabia have recovered.Of the newly detected cases, 26 percent are female and 74 percent are male. The spokesman also said 35 percent of the new cases are Saudi nationals while 65 percent are of other nationalities.Three factors have contributed to the increase in the number of daily new cases, the spokesman explained.First, a virus outbreak naturally causes an increase in the number of infections then the daily numbers eventually begin to decline, according to al-Abd al-Ali. Second, he said, that the ministry has increased its testing capacity and continues to do so in order to detect as many cases as possible. Over the past month, the ministry has conducted three-times as many screenings as in previous months. The third reason that the spokesman mentioned was individuals are not maintaining social distancing rules and are not abiding with precautionary meansures. These factors have also contributed to the increase in numbers.Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Dr. Tawfig al-Rabiah has warned that the number of cases in the Kingdom could reach up to 200,000, based on four different studies conducted by Saudi and foreign experts. His lower estimate was 10,000.The country has the most total confirmed coronavirus cases in the region. However, it is also by far the largest country in the GCC, both in terms of population and area.The Kingdom confirmed its first cases on March 2 when an infected Saudi Arabian national returned from Iran. Government officials were quick to implement measures including lockdowns, curfew, shutting down domestic and international travel, as well as closing businesses and mosques. Saudi Arabia even suspended prayers in Islam's two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.Despite easing some restrictions and re-opening malls and businesses under strict measures, family gatherings of more than five people are still banned throughout the country. All gatherings for occasions such as weddings, funerals, parties, and such have also been banned.The Interior Ministry last week announced there will be a full day lockdown and curfew across the Kingdom during the upcoming Eid holidays from May 23 until May 27.Read more: Saudi Arabia’s malls to remain open until May 22, says commerce ministry$266,374 fine, 5 years jail for coronavirus measures violators in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia to impose 24-hr lockdown for Eid holidays when Ramadan ends
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia confirms 2,509 new cases, raising total to 59,854

The United Arab Emirates has developed a rapid laser technology to detect the coronavirus as soon as it enters the blood cells, official WAM news agency reported on Tuesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The new equipment, developed by QuantLase Imaging Lab, can provide faster mass screenings and results may be available within seconds, according to the news agency. This will help the country expands its mass testing capacity.The researchers working on the new technology have been studying the change in cell structure of the virus-infected blood, WAM reports. In its early stages so far, the device can detect blood cells as soon as they get infected, according to a lead researcher.“Our laser-based DPI (Diffractive Phase Interferometry) technique, based on optical-phase modulation, is able to give a signature of infection within a few seconds,” Dr. Pramod Kumar, who leads the team of researchers, is quoted by WAM as saying. “What’s more, it is user-friendly, non-invasive and low-cost.”Read also: UAE develops COVID-19 treatment, ‘could be game-changer’The developers said the testing device can be used in both hospitals and in public places such as shopping malls and cinemas.“With a ‘little hands-on training’ it can be used for in-house testing and monitoring,” Kumar added. “We believe it will be a game-changer in tackling the spread of the coronavirus.”The researches have reportedly used the first 1,000 tests conducted to refine the experiment, then they applied it to the rest of the trials, according to the lead doctor.“The process passed through several stages, and most recently was being trialed on a large scale, in line with current testing procedures,” Kumar is quoted by WAM as saying.The developeres hope to be able to have the device available in the market within a few months, according to WAM.Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman al-Owais said the UAE is always “following innovations related to the early and rapid detection of COVID-19”“Health officials have been closely monitoring the progress of trials with QuantLase in order to test this equipment,” WAM quoted the minister as saying. “We are proud to see a technology that works and that will help to protect our people better.”Earlier this month, a UAE research institute developed a coronavirus treatment using stem cells that regenerates lung cells and prevents the immune system from overreacting.The health ministry has so far confirmed 25,063 cases with 10,791 recoveries so far. The country has maintained a relatively low death toll with 227 total fatalities.Read more:UAE’s 38,000 COVID-19 tests detect 873 new cases, total passes 25,000UAE develops COVID-19 treatment, ‘could be game-changer’All you need to know about UAE’s stricter fines for violating rules
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE develops rapid laser technology for virus detection

After one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe, Italian synagogues reopened this week under strict restrictions, while German Jews have been praying under similar limitations in some cities.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Prayer with masks and no singing returns to synagogues in Italy, Germany

"It is unusual that children don't seem to play much of a role in transmission because for most respiratory viruses and bacteria they play a central role, but in this they don't seem to."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Children with COVID-19 may be less contagious than adults, UK experts say