Middle East Experience

The United Arab Emirates has detected 557 new coronavirus cases after conducting 26,000 tests, the government communication office announced on Friday.The death toll climbed to 111 after the health ministry recorded six new deaths over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, an additional 114 have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 2,543 out of a total 13,038 cases so far.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.As the number of confirmed cases in the UAE continues to rise, an increasing number of patients are also recovering, and the death toll remains relatively low.Less than one percent of the those who contracted the virus in the UAE have passed away, while nearly 20 percent of the country’s coronavirus patients have recovered so far.The UAE has partially lifted strict lockdowns in recent days with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Malls, restaurants and other business are now allowed to operate but must follow strict preventative measures such as only allowing 20 percent capacity at a time and requiring everyone to wear face masks to prevent the spread of the virus.People are now allowed to leave their homes without a permit between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.Entertainment destinations such as cinemas, and public beaches and parks remain closed until further notice. Director General of the Department of Economic Development (DED), Sami al-Qamzi on Thursday said the reopening of such places would “depend on the overall pandemic situation and an assessment of the health of the community.”Read more:Dubai opened up 30 pct of economy, rest depends on rate of coronavirus infection: DEDUAE to continue traditional Ramadan cannon firing without spectators amid coronavirus concernsDubai eases coronavirus restrictions as it marks Ramadan: 10 questions answered
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE detects 557 new cases after conducting 26,000 tests

Iran on Friday announced 63 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, saying the rate of fatalities and infections were dropping while calling on the public to remain vigilant.The deaths recorded in the past 24 hours brought to 6,091 the overall toll from the illness in the Middle East's hardest-hit country.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 1,006 people tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.“We have seen drops in the numbers of infections and deaths in recent days,” Jahanpour said on state television.“The process of managing the disease is continuing," he added.Jahanpour expressed hope that Iran would get close to "controlling" the outbreak with people observing health protocols.The new infections brought to 95,646 the number recorded in the Islamic republic since it announced its first cases in mid-February.More than 76,300 of those had already been released from hospital after recovering.Of those still being treated, 2,899 were in critical condition.Doubts have been cast over Iran's coronavirus figures by experts and officials both at home and abroad.Deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi said 116 of Iran's 434 counties have been given the all clear which might lead to the reopening of religious, cultural and sport centres, state news agency IRNA reported.But the outbreak had worsened in some provinces, including Mazandaran on the Caspian Sea coast.IRNA said the number of infections in the popular tourist spot had spiked in the past day after two weeks of downward trajectory.Iran has shut schools, universities, cinemas and stadiums among other public spaces since March to contain the spread of the virus.But it has allowed a phased reopening of its economy and lifted restrictions on intercity travel since April 11.Mosques remain closed even as Muslims observe the fasting month of Ramadan.Read more:WHO wants invite to join investigation into virus originsUAE detects 557 new cases after conducting 26,000 testsHot Pockets heir cannot use pandemic to avoid prison time
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Iran reports 63 deaths, drop in daily death rate

Saudi Arabia’s total number of cases have reached 24,097 after the health ministry recorded 1,344 new cases, a health ministry spokesman said on Friday.He also said the death toll reached 168 with seven new deaths recorded over the past 24 hours. One Saudi national and six non-Saudis with ages ranging between 46 and 75 have passed away due to complications.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The spokesman said 83 percent of the new cases are of various nationalities other than Saudi Arabian while 17 percent are Saudi nationals.As the number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom continues to rise, an increasing number of patients are also recovering, and the death toll remains relatively low.Less than one percent of the those who contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia have passed away, while 3,555, about 15 percent of the country’s coronavirus patients, have recovered so far.Saudi Arabia began field testing in recent weeks in order to expand its testing capacity. Medical teams have so far made 1,800 visits to various neighborhoods throughout the Kingdom to test people in their homes, with a focus on densely populated labor residential areas. A spokesman said 170,000 labor workers have been tested so far.Most confirmed coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia are of people living in densely populated residential areas, especially neighborhoods that house laborers, according to the health ministry.A committee for organizing labor housing in the Kingdom has taken several measures to reduce the spread of the virus in these densely populated areas. The Kingdom has provided 2,000 alternative residential properties that consist of 170,000 rooms which can house 350,000 labor workers.Six hundred charities have stepped up to provide over 40,000 daily meals for laborers in the Kingdom.Read more:Saudi Arabia daily cases more than double since field testingUAE detects 557 new cases after conducting 26,000 testsSaudi signs $265 million China deal to expand Kingdom’s testing capacity
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia total cases over 24,000, steady increase of 1,344 new cases

The low-cost airline is talking to its lessors to try to defer or waive charges for as long as the pandemic persists, according to its CEO Rohit Ramachandran
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Kuwait's Jazeera lays off 300 employees amid Covid-19 challenges

The farm delivers approximately 10kg of fresh herbs and microgreens per day, equivalent to the yield of about 1 acre of farmland.
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Dubai welcomes first in-store hydroponic farm by Majid Al Futtaim

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Taif Mining Services LLC and its owner over accusations he helped support Iran's elite Quds Force, including in efforts to smuggle shipments from Iran to Yemen, the US Treasury Department said.The Treasury Department said in a statement that Iranian and Iraqi national Amir Dianat has supported Quds Force smuggling operations for years, including efforts aimed at the shipment of weapons including missiles.In addition to the Treasury Department's blacklisting of Dianat, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed criminal charges against him and one of his business associates for violations of sanctions and money laundering laws.The sanctions freeze any U.S.-held assets of Dianat or Taif Mining Services and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.“The Iranian regime and its supporters continue to prioritize the funding of international terrorist organizations over the health and well-being of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.Tensions between Washington and Tehran have spiked since Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal struck by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and began re-imposing sanctions that had been eased under the accord.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US imposes new Iran-related sanctions on Iraqi national linked to Quds Force

A battle for the speaker’s seat appears to be the opening episode of a fresh round of infighting among Iran’s hard-liners after their victory in a one-sided parliamentary election.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran’s hard-liners in tug of war over parliament speakership

Malls will have to pay a fee for the cameras that must be rented through the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA)
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Abu Dhabi shopping malls, food retailers and pharmacies must install thermal cameras at entrances

A group of 11 European ambassadors to Israel has made it clear that West Bank annexation plans will be met with fierce international objection.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: European ambassadors warn Israel over annexation plans

A United Arab Emirates research institute has developed a coronavirus treatment “which could be a game-changer in the global fight” against the outbreak, a government official announced on Friday.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center has developed a treatment method that regenerates lung cells and prevents the immune system from overreacting, Hend Al Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a Twitter thread.She said the treatment involves the extraction of stem cells from a patient’s own blood and reintroducing them into the lungs via inhalation of a mist.“[This] could have a significant impact on our ability to live with the virus until a vaccine is available,” Al Otaiba added.The treatment has successfully undergone an initial phase of clinical trials, with no harmful side effects, on 73 patients making full recoveries, according to the director.Many of the trial patients had were moderately to severely ill prior to treatment, and many were intubated in an intensive care unit, according to Al Otaiba.More trials are being conducted and a clearer understanding of the treatment’s potential should be available in the coming weeks.The UAE has so far recorded 13,038 coronavirus cases so far but has maintained a relatively low death toll with only 111 fatalities.Meanwhile, 2,543 people, nearly 20 percent of the country’s infected patients, have recovered so far.Read more: Saudi Arabia total cases over 24,000, steady increase of 1,344 new casesUAE detects 557 new cases after conducting 26,000 testsDubai opened up 30 pct of economy, rest depends on rate of coronavirus infection: DED
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE develops COVID-19 treatment, ‘could be game-changer’