Middle East Experience

Kuwait reported a rise of 955 new coronavirus cases on Friday, continuing its steep increase in cases over recent days and bringing the total in the country to 19,564.The statement by the Ministry of Health on Twitter also recorded nine new deaths, bringing the total to 138.The number of cases in Kuwait has risen relatively rapidly over the last few days, with 1,073 new cases on Tuesday, 804 on Wednesday, and 1,041 on Thursday.Read more:Coronavirus: Oman records 424 new cases, bringing total to 6,794 with 32 deathsCoronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown Coronavirus: UAE reports 941 new cases, six deaths over past 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait reports large rise of 955 cases, total now 19,564, 9 new deaths

Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed, the chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, said on Friday that the proactive approach taken by the ruler of Dubai has enabled the UAE to minimize the negative impact of the virus.The UAE began implementing measures aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus back in early March, announcing the closure of schools on March 3. Dubai has implemented the strictest rules of the seven emirates that make up the UAE and was the only emirate to have a 24-hour curfew in place before restrictions were eased at the beginning of Ramadan.Sheikh Mansoor praised the proactive response taken by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.“.@sheikhmansoor, Chairman of #Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management: @HHShkMohd's principals of being proactive and taking preemptive action has enabled us to respond to the global pandemic and minimise its grave repercussions,” tweeted the official Dubai media account.He reportedly made the comments while chairing a meeting of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre.Sheikh Mansoor also praised the UAE’s scientific community for its response to the pandemic.“The #UAE's scientific scene is now experiencing its best phase. Scientists of the UAE are placing our nation among the countries shaping the world's future. The Command & Control Centre plays a major role at the heart of the nation's efforts to combat COVID-19,” tweeted the official Dubai Media account.Read more:Around 70 pct of Dubai companies expect to close in 6 months amid coronavirus: SurveyCoronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown Coronavirus: Kuwait reports large rise of 955 cases, total now 19,564, 9 new deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed praises Dubai's proactive COVID-19 response

Saudi Arabia announced 2,642 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total in the Kingdom to 67,719 cases, according to the Ministry of Health on Twitter.The increase is higher than the previous day's 2,532 new cases and 12 new deaths.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.In line with the recent trend, the largest number of cases was reported in the capital Riyadh, where there were 856 new cases. The region with the second-highest number was Jeddah, with 403, followed by 289 in Mecca and 205 in Medina.The majority of the cases were non-Saudi Arabians - 62 percent - with the remaining 38 percent citizens. Almost three quarters - 73 percent - of the cases were men. Only 11 percent were children.Read more:Coronavirus: Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed praises Dubai's proactive COVID-19 responseCoronavirus: Qatar reports 1,830 new cases, total above 40,000, two new deathsCoronavirus: Kuwait reports large rise of 955 cases, total now 19,564, 9 new deathsSaudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdownSaudi 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.The lockdown is set to begin on May 23 and end on May 27, depending on when authorities announce the start of the holiday.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.Read more: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown Saudi Arabia to quarantine money, notesSaudi Arabia will quarantine banknotes and metal coins it receives domestically or from foreign sources for a period of 14 to 20 days as part of precautionary measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.“We have taken precautionary measures to isolate and sterilize both paper and metal currencies, whether coming from inside or outside the Kingdom, by isolating them for a period of 14 days, and up to 20 days, depending on where it has come from,” SAMA said in a promotional video explaining their procedures.SAMA said that the currencies would be placed in specific cages where sterilization could be applied, in addition to sorting all banknotes to ensure their quality and cleanliness.Read more: Saudi Arabia to quarantine banknotes, coins up to 20 daysDeveloping.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia announces 2,642 new cases, bringing the total to 67,719

A drone blasting messages in multiple languages is being used in Bahrain to enforce traffic rules and ensure people cross the road safely, according to a release by the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA).Drones have been used by a range of governments to enforce curfews, scan body temperature and disinfect buildings during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the use of drones by governments to enforce minor rules such as traffic regulations is currently uncommon.Bahrain’s General Directorate of Traffic launched “a drone for a multi-language awareness campaign for road users to promote traffic safety” on Thursday, according to BNA.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The campaign was reportedly launched in response to an increase in walking and cycling in Bahrain, with the aim of ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists were safe on the road.“The campaign, launched following the increase in sports activities, including walking and riding bicycles among citizens, aimed to promote safe crossing and other riding safety instructions, mainly among group riders,” said BNA.The drone was also being used to help highlight the measures put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus, as well as “wrong parking,” said BNA.It is unclear how exactly the police used the drone to enforce the rules, and whether they had control over its different language messages.Bahrain announced a further 164 coronavirus cases on Friday.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia announces 2,642 new cases, bringing the total to 67,719Coronavirus: Thermal drones monitor body temperatures in Saudi Arabia’s al-BahahCoronavirus: India uses drones, fire engines to disinfect pandemic-hit Ahmedabad
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Bahrain traffic drone enforces police rules in multiple languages

Hackers broke into the sound systems of mosques in Izmir to play a popular Italian protest song, reigniting political and religious debates in polarized Turkey.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turks rattled as protest song blares from mosques

The remains of a fugitive major suspect in Rwanda's 1994 genocide have been identified in a grave in the Republic of the Congo, a United Nations war crimes prosecutor said on Friday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UN prosecutor: remains of Rwandan war crimes suspect found in Congo

The Shawwal crescent moon has not been sighted in Saudi Arabia on Friday night, meaning that Ramadan will last 30 days this year and Eid al-Fitr will fall on Sunday, May 24, according to Al Arabiya’s correspondent.The sighting committee in the Tumair observatory, Saudi Arabia, said the crescent moon was not sighted on Friday night.Eid al-Fitr celebrations follow the sighting of the crescent moon, ending the holy month of Ramadan and the dawn-to-dusk fasting of millions of Muslims.Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Sighting a crescent moon heralds the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the Eid al-Fitr which marks the held of the holy month.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The UAE-based International Astronomical Center said last week their calculations estimated this coming Sunday, May 24, would likely be the first day of Eid al-Fitr across most Islamic countries in the world.“Friday, May 22, will mark the 29th day of Ramadan in most Islamic countries that started Ramadan on Friday, April 24. For these countries, sighting the crescent on that day is impossible from all countries of the Islamic world, because of the moon will set before the sun and due to the pairing (of the crescent’s birth) after sunset,” said IAC chairman Mohammed Odeh in a statement.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world marked Ramadan this year, during which believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having marital relations from dawn until sunset. They also try to avoid evil thoughts and deeds.This year’s Ramadan is markedly different as many Muslims will not be able to experience the communal traditions of Ramadan due to the restrictions on movement and social gathering imposed in Islamic and Muslim-majority countries across the world following the coronavirus pandemic.Read more: Coronavirus: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s 24-hour Eid al-Fitr lockdown
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Eid al-Fitr to begin on Sunday in Saudi Arabia

In order to fly to Cyprus between the dates June 9 and 19, Israeli citizens will first need to take a coronavirus test within the 72 hours leading up to their arrival.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Cyprus gives green light for Israeli tourists amid coronavirus

Demand for decades-old hydroxychloroquine has surged as Trump repeatedly pushed for its use against the coronavirus, urging people to try it. "What have you got to lose," he said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Drug touted by Trump as COVID-19 treatment tied to increased risk of death

The Israeli authorities reportedly took Iran's cyber attack on its water systems very seriously, retaliating quickly and warning Tehran of its capabilities.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel response to cyber attack sends clear warning to Iran