Middle East Experience

Ministry said rumour came from a social media post dated March 23, when the Covid-19 crisis began to escalate
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: UAE health ministry says no plans to close shopping malls

Private sector employees in the United Arab Emirates will have three days of paid leave for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which is expected to start on May 22, the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announced on Wednesday.Also read: Ramadan: UAE announces Eid al-Fitr public holidays to begin May 22“The dates between 29 Ramadan and 3 Shawwal 1441 (Hijri) to be a paid holiday for all employees working in the private sector in the UAE on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr,” the MOHRE said on Twitter.Ramadan 29 falls on Friday May 22. The end of the holiday is expected to be on May 26, but an official date will be confirmed after a moon sighting.The holiday marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the month-long period when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and is usually celebrated with family and friends.Read more:Ramadan’s message of hope in the time of coronavirusCoronavirus: Spending Ramadan in lockdown? Here’s what you can do during the month
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE announces three-day Eid al-Fitr paid leave for private sector employees

Over 6,500 foreign nationals have already returned to the UAE since the country allowed residents to return following a period of shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a UAE government spokesperson.Flights out of the UAE were suspended on March 23 as officials moved to contain the spread of the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. Emirates and Etihad have both been involved in government repatriations to bring citizens home. Flights that allow UAE residents have only recently been announced, with passengers able to fly once government approval has been granted.“A total of 6,504 foreign nationals have already returned to the UAE onboard the UAE national carriers,” Dr. Khaled Al-Mazrouei, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Al Arabiya English.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.For UAE residents and tourists looking to return home during the lockdown, airlines have also been offering separate one-way flights.“Following the decision to temporarily allow specific flights to pass through the airports, 317 air repatriations of foreign citizens have taken place so far, with a total of 74,745 repatriates and we are expecting to have in the pipeline for the coming days over 112 repatriations,” Al-Mazrouei added.It is currently unclear when all government restrictions on passengers will lift. The UAE has temporarily banned visas on arrival for all nationalities and banned its citizens from traveling outside the country.Residents return to the UAEEarlier on Wednesday, Dubai-based Emirates airlines announced it would resume flights to nine cities in eight countries, including providing connections between the UK and Australia, from May 21.For UAE residents looking to return to Dubai, passengers will need to secure approval from The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) via the online UAE Twajudi Resident service.All passengers will be subject to a mandatory Dubai Health Authority (DHA) coronavirus test on arrival, followed by a 14-day quarantine period and follow up test.The news follows last week’s announcement that Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways would be operating one-way flights to the UAE capital for residents and nationals to return to the country beginning May 9. Earlier on Wednesday Etihad said it would operate a "special" flight from Abu Dhabi to New York for Americans looking to return home May 15.In early May, Etihad and Emirates chiefs said that it could take three years for air travel demand to return to pre-COVID-19 levels.On April 29, Etihad Airways said that it would be delaying the return of regular passenger flights until June 16.Read more:Coronavirus: Emirates announces flights between Dubai, UAE and 9 cities from May 21Etihad Airways announces transit flights via Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, LondonCoronavirus: Emirates airline announces limited passenger flights into Dubai, UAE
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Over 6,500 expats have returned to UAE so far, ministry says

Saudi Arabia reported 1,905 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 44,830, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The number of daily reported cases in the country began to decrease on Tuesday for the first time since the start of the outbreak, health ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said.This is due to increased testing, which has allowed the ministry to isolate active cases, as well as the public’s commitment to following preventative measures, he added.Al-Abd al-Ali added that the number of recoveries recorded in the past day was more than the number of infections.Also read: Coronavirus ‘end date’ in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar predicted by Singapore researchersA total of 2,365 people recovered from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, raising the number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 17,622.Nine people died of the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the virus-related death toll in the country to 273, al-Abd al-Ali said.They include two Saudi Arabians and seven non-Saudi residents who lived in Jeddah and Mecca.From the newly detected cases, Saudi citizens make up 32 percent while non-Saudi residents make up 68 percent.Read more:Coronavirus: Four families in Saudi Arabia infected after group Ramadan iftarCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia to impose 24-hr lockdown for Eid holidays when Ramadan ends
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 1,905 new cases as daily toll begins to decline 

Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: From the editors

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of annexation in his press conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, focusing instead on the pandemic, the US peace plan and Iran.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu leaves annexation on back burner in talks with Pompeo

Teenager Zaid Qaysia was killed during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian residents of the Al-Fawar refugee camp Wednesday morning.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli soldier kills Palestinian teen in West Bank clash

The company uses umbilical cord blood, which like bone marrow and peripheral blood, is a rich source of stem cells for transplantation.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli-American Gamida hits goal in phase 3 blood cancer trial

Hezbollah had malware in Germany to spy on US and Israeli soldiers
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Germany confirms Mossad help with Hezbollah ban but upset about credit

“The annexation of occupied territory is in violation of international law as set out in UN Security Council Resolutions,” a House of Lords committee has said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: British politicians call for economic steps against Israel on annexation