Middle East Experience

The former Nissan executive fled Japan for his native Lebanon while on bail following being charged with financial crimes.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Two men arrested in US for allegedly helping Carlos Ghosn flee Japan

The long arm of the Iranian law has reached the “sultan of cars” and his wife, last in a line of market manipulators sent to the gallows.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran’s judiciary sentences couple to death over corruption

As the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day, journalists in Egypt were being subjected to an arrest campaign by Egyptian security forces, while the authorities banned the use of pseudonyms.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt steps up crackdown on journalists as world celebrates press freedom

Iran called on its citizens on Thursday to avoid travel during the upcoming festival marking the end of Ramadan as it announced another surge in coronavirus infections.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The Islamic republic has entered a fourth month in its battle to contain the virus.“Our biggest concern” is to have “new peaks of the disease in the country by not respecting health regulations,” said Health Minister Saeed Namaki.“So I ask the dear Iranian people... not to travel during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. New trips mean new COVID-19 infections,” he said, quoted by the semi-official news agency ISNA.Also read: Coronavirus: 10,000 Iranian health workers infected with COVID-19, says deputy healthThe Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Sunday in Iran.Namaki’s remarks came as his ministry announced 66 more deaths and another 2,392 cases of coronavirus infection across Iran, which has the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak.Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the latest figures took Iran’s overall death toll to 7,249 and its caseload of infections to 129,341.He said that of the new infections, 351 were in people who had been hospitalized and 2,041 who had been in close contact with patients.Jahanpour added that there were no new deaths in 12 of Iran’s 31 provinces, and that six provinces reported just one virus fatality.The minister said people were failing to adhere to health protocols in Iran’s hardest-hit provinces.“In Khuzestan province, and in some of the provinces that have experienced new outbreaks of the disease, we found that they had not followed instructions,” he said, referring to the government’s social distancing protocols.Iran reported its first cases of coronavirus on February 19 – two deaths in the Shiite holy city of Qom.The government of President Hassan Rouhani was criticized for being slow to react as the virus spread rapidly across the Islamic republic.It shut schools and places of worship and banned inter-city travel for the Persian New Year holidays in March, but since last month it has gradually eased restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the virus.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Iran urges against Eid travel as COVID-19 cases surge 

Kuwait reports 1,041 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of cases in the country 18,609, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The new cases were detected when 4,757 swab samples were taken from individuals and tested in the past 24 hours, as the country ramps ups its efforts to test more people and detect cases early, according to the health ministry spokesman.So far, Kuwait has conducted more than 261,071 coronavirus swab tests.Some of the newly reported cases are of indivuals who were infected from others who had the virus, while others are under epidemic investigation.None of the newly reported cases were linked to travel.Five people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of virus-related deaths to 129, the ministry added.Meanwhile, 5,205 people have recovered from the virus in Kuwait so far.Kuwait last week began its 24-hour nationwide curfew to curb the coronavirus outbreak. The ministry urged citizens and residents to adhere to precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait detects 1,041 new cases after conducting 4,757 swab tests

Saudi Arabia reported a steady increase of 2,532 new coronavirus cases and 12 new deaths, which brings the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 65,077 and the virus-related death toll to 351, the Ministry of Health announced.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The majority of cases were detected in the capital Riyadh, where 714 new infections were reported, according to the ministry.Jeddah reported the second highest number of new cases, with 390 infections detected in the last 24 hours.The other cases were found in cities and provinces across the Kingdom.Females make up 27 percent and males make up 73 percent of the new infections, health ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said.Saudi Arabian citizens make up 39 percent of the new cases, while non-Saudi residents make up 61 percent, he added.A total of 28,686 cases are currently active, out of which 281 are critical.Meanwhile, 36,040 people have recovered from the coronavirus so far.Al-Abd al-Ali urged citizens and residents to adhere to precautionary measures to curb the outbreak.Read more: Coronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdownSaudi Arabia’s residents may be deported if they violate coronavirus rules in shops
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 2,532, majority detected in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior last week announced it will introduce a 24-hour lockdown and curfew across the Kingdom during the upcoming Eid holidays May 23-27.Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to begin on May 23 pending the moon sighting, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Also read: Coronavirus: Spending Eid in lockdown? Here’s how to make the most of the holiday But with the coronavirus pandemic forcing the government to impose a lockdown to help curb the spread of the virus, the holiday will be quite different this year.Here’s what you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid lockdown:How long will the lockdown last? The lockdown is set to begin on May 23 and end on May 27, depending on when authorities announce the start of the holiday.Will mosques reopen for Eid prayers? Mosques will not reopen for Eid al-Fitr prayers, and a muezzin – the person appointed at a mosque to lead and recite the call to prayer – will not be making the Eid takbeerat, which is a special type of call to prayer that is only done during Eid. However, it is permissible for Muslims to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer at home, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh said earlier this week. Are Eid gatherings allowed? While social gatherings are a common tradition during the Eid holidays, authorities have urged people to adhere to social distancing measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Gatherings of no more than five people, or gatherings with more than one family who do not live in the same household are banned, according to the Ministry of Interior.Violators will be fined and penalized. Are gatherings in chalets and/or farms allowed? Gatherings in chalets and/or farms with more than one family are prohibited, the Ministry of Interior said. For first time offenses, the host or the owner of the chalet or farm will be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,663), and 20,000 riyals for second time offenses ($5,326). Meanwhile, attendees will be fined 5,000 riyals each ($1,331) for first time offenses, and 10,000 riyals ($2,663) for second time offenses. For social gatherings with friends, the host will receive a 15,000 riyal ($3,994) fine on the first offense, and a 30,000 riyal fine ($7,989) for the second offense. Meanwhile, individuals who attend gatherings hosted by friends in a chalet or farm will be fined 5,000 riyals ($1,331) the first time, and 10,000 riyals ($2,663) the second time. Will malls remain open during Eid? Malls and shopping centers will be closed for the Eid holiday, the Ministry of Commerce spokesman said.While malls and shops were allowed to operate during the holy month of Ramadan, they are set to close on May 22.Also read: Saudi Arabia’s residents may be deported if they violate coronavirus rules in shopsThe Ministry of Health urged all citizens and residents to follow precautionary measures during the holiday to help prevent the virus from spreading. Read more:Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti says Muslims can perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at homeCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia bans family gatherings, crowds of more than 5 people
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown 

Israeli soccer players have resumed training sessions and might even play again, but the fans are still kept away from the stadiums.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli soccer fans dream of returning to stadiums

The political head of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Mehdi al-Mashat, vowed to release six Baha’i prisoners during a lengthy televised address in March. Two months later, multiple sources have confirmed to Al-Monitor that the Yemeni rebels have failed to follow through and that all six prisoners remain behind bars.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Houthis continue to detain Baha’i prisoners despite promise to release them

As the coronavirus continues to disrupt everyday life, celebrations such as for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr will be quite different this year.The holiday, which is expected to begin on May 23 pending the moon sighting, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.Also read: Coronavirus: Spending Eid in lockdown? Here’s how to make the most of the holidayHowever, the United Arab Emirates on Thursday issued a list of guidelines that all citizens and residents can follow during the holiday as part of efforts to curb the outbreak.Here’s all you need to know about spending Eid in the UAE:Will there be a curfew? The UAE Government announced earlier this week that the nationwide disinfection program has been extended starting from May 27 until further notice, and curfew will now be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.For industrial and workers’ residential areas, the curfew was extended for an additional two hours, and is set to start from 6 p.m.Are family gatherings prohibited? The UAE Government urged all members of the public to avoid family gatherings and visits and advised residents to use other means of communication to share Eid greetings.Visiting pregnant women, children, people who are at a higher risk of infection, and those with chronic illnesses is strictly prohibited.Will mosques be open? Mosques will remain closed during the holiday, but a muezzin – the person appointed at a mosque to lead and recite the call to prayer – will perform the call for Eid prayers after the Fajr prayers.However, the Emirates Fatwa Council issued that the Eid prayers can be performed at home.Is handing out Eidiyahs allowed? Families should avoid handing out Eidiyahs, or the gift or sum of money given to children by older relatives as part of celebrations, the UAE Government advised.Electronic methods should be used instead to avoid accidentally infecting others with the virus.Can you exercise outdoors? Walking, jogging, and cycling is allowed only if it is done near an individual’s residence, and for up to two hours, according to the UAE Government.A maximum of three people are allowed to exercise together, but they must keep a two-meter distance between each other and wear a mask at all times.Will any outlets be open during nationwide disinfection program? Food retail stores, cooperatives, groceries, supermarkets, and pharmacies will be allowed to open for 24 hours a day during the nationwide disinfection program.When will retail stores be allowed to operate? Retail stores will be allowed to open from the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. while ensuring that all preventative measures are being taken.This includes meat, fruits, and vegetables markets, mills, slaughterhouses, fish markets, coffee and tea mills, and nuts and chocolates stores.Will shopping centers be open? Shopping centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.What are the preventative measures that must be followed in retail stores and shopping centers? Retail stores and shopping centers must operate at a 30 percent capacity, ensure that a two-meter distance between individuals is kept at all times, and deny access to people over 60 years old and children below 12.Meanwhile, customers are allowed to shop for up to two hours.Read more:Coronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown Coronavirus: All you need to know about UAE’s stricter fines for violating rules
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Your guide to spending Eid al-Fitr in the UAE amid COVID-19