Middle East Experience

Kuwait recorded 752 new coronavirus recoveries over the past 24 hours, marking its highest daily increase in recovered cases yet, a health ministry spokesman said on Thursday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.An additional 3,396 COVID-19 tests were administered which detected 845 new cases, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 24,112 in the country.The ministry also recorded 10 new deaths, raising the death toll to 185 so far.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Despite the increasing number of cases, more than half of those infected in Kuwait have recovered, according to the health ministry’s latest tally. Meanwhile, only 197 of the 15,229 active cases are in the intensive care unit, the rest of the patients are in stable condition with minor to mild symptoms.The first three cases in Kuwait were announced on February 24, all of which had arrived from Iran which was witnessing an explosion of cases at the time. Many of the subsequent cases confirmed in Kuwait during late February were also people arriving from Iran.The country quickly imposed an 11-hour curfew beginning on March 22, along with heavy fines for breaking the rules. The curfew was extended to a 24-hour lockdown on May 10 as cases continued to increase.On Monday, however, the government announced it will not extend the 24-hour curfew beyond May 30, according to the country's interior minister.Read more:Kuwait will not extend 24-hour curfewUAE sees drop in daily numbers, records 563 new casesUAE reports cleaner air with 30 pct reduction in nitrogen dioxide
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait records 752 new recoveries, its highest daily increase yet

Oman announced 636 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 40 new deaths, the country’s Health Ministry reported.The total case count in Oman now stands at 9,009, and health officials announced 2,177 recoveries.Of the new cases, 345 newly infected are Omanis, and 291 are non-Omanis.The Ministry of Health continues to urge everyone in the country to adhere to social distancing instructions and not go out unless necessary.“With our commitment to health isolation and social distancing, we will prevent ourselves, our families, and our community from the spread of coronavirus,” the ministry’s statement said.Yesterday Oman recorded 255 new casesAlso on Wednesday, Oman announced it would end its lockdown in the Muscat province, including the capital, on May 29.The government also said that at least 50 percent of employees will begin working in offices again beginning May 31.Read more: Coronavirus: UAE sees drop in daily numbers, records 563 new casesCoronavirus: UAE develops COVID-19 treatment, ‘could be game-changer’Coronavirus: Kuwait records 752 new recoveries, its highest daily increase yet
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: COVID-19: Oman records 636 new coronavirus cases, 40 deaths

Saudi Arabia recorded 3,531 new recoveries and 1,644 new coronavirus infection cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 80,185 on Thursday, according to the health ministry.The ministry also reported that 16 people who had previously tested positive for the virus have died due to complications. However, the death toll remains relatively low in the Kingdom having reached 441.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Despite a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, Saudi Arabia has also seen an increase in its recovery numbers with nearly 70 percent — 54,553 — of those who contracted the virus in the Kingdom recovering so far.Read more:Saudi Arabia allows outdoor exercise, internal travel as lockdown easesSaudi Arabia private sector employees to return to officesSaudi Arabia to extend tourist visas for three months free of chargeEasing restrictionsSaudi Arabia has lifted some restrictions on movement for residents within the country and is now allowing travel between its provinces in a partial easing of its coronavirus lockdown, the Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday.On Tuesday, the Kingdom announced it would be entering a new phase of its coronavirus strategy on May 28. Today, the ministry confirmed that the new strategy had been put into place, lifting some of the restrictions imposed in lockdown.More shops, including wholesale, retail and malls, will also be allowed to reopen in a further lifting of the lockdown restrictions, as long as all precautionary measures are adhered to.All activities that don't allow social distancing remain banned until further notice.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 3,531 recoveries, 1,644 new cases

According to local media, 14-year-old Romina Ashrafi was beheaded in her sleep.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran arrests man over ‘honor killing’ of 14-year-old daughter

In what both progressive and conservative critics considered a tone-deaf step to support Iraq’s LGBTQ community, several Western embassies’ raising of the rainbow flag did not have its intended effects.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Rainbow flags over Baghdad fan debate, spur fear

Life is gradually returning to normal in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after months of lockdown restrictions to curb the coronavirus, reviving economies that have been hard hit by the decline in oil prices..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Life gradually returns to normal in Saudi Arabia, UAE

Facility to be operated by the Dubai Health Authority..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Emirati businessmen donate Dubai hotel for coronavirus quarantine, stranded visitors

At a street market in southern Beirut, Lebanese crowd around volunteers handing out free rations of bread and pasta, staples that have become a lifeline to families whose living standards have plunged during a financial crisis..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Bread and no meat for Lebanese made poor by crisis

A former mayor of Tehran tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was elected Thursday as Iran's new parliamentary speaker..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hardliner involved in crackdown on demonstrators is Iran's new parliament speaker

In a rare step, the Arab-Muslim dancer was laid to rest in the Muslim Cemetery with mourners greeted at the local church’s hall to show community unity in the wake of his tragic death.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Thousands honor drowned dancer Ayman Safiah at his funeral