Middle East Experience

The online hub will allows shoppers in Bahrain to purchase from more than 100 brands.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: ‘Virtual mall’ in Bahrain opens for shoppers on lockdown

A suicide bomber, reportedly an Islamic State member, detonated himself at an Iraqi intelligence building in the disputed northern city.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraqi intelligence building bombed in Kirkuk

The reported effort by the state-run Saudi Public Investment Fund to buy the Newcastle United football club has prompted an opposition campaign by human rights organizations.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Saudi bid for English Premier League soccer team has support of fans, opposition of human rights advocates

Hezbollah has publicly displayed its work on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus in Lebanon, but the group’s militants who fight on frontlines elsewhere say they are now receiving less support from the organization.The organization’s finances have been stretched thin for months due in part to US sanctions on Hezbollah and the group’s patron Iran, and it is now reflecting in the support provided to its fighting force.Relying on a corps of volunteers and doctors, Hezbollah boasted new medical facilities specifically equipped to receive coronavirus patients in regions under its control. Some likened Hezbollah’s efforts to a public relations campaign.Read more: The domestication of Hezbollah in the time of coronavirusThe paramilitary group has mobilized two testing centers and a fleet of ambulances and has redesigned an entire hospital equipped with ventilators for coronavirus patients. The organization has also rolled out a call center and three quarantine centers with 170 beds that can be scaled up to 1,000 beds, according to Reuters.But despite its robust network, sources close and inside the party admit there is a significant decline in Hezbollah’s overall services, including its medical services provided to its members, and connections to high-ranking members are now needed to receive extra food aid.“Fighters are complaining that there is more bureaucracy and red tape, which is making access to basic healthcare more complicated,” said a source close to Hezbollah and speaking on condition of anonymity. The source said the party is increasingly reliant on Lebanese social healthcare for costly surgeries.Abou Hadi, a Hezbollah fighter, said there has been a significant impact on all the services provided by the group. He participated in numerous rounds of fighting on the outskirts of Damascus in Syria and was wounded several times. Now he explains that the party has cut many of the subsidies it used to provide.“I earn $600, but I used to receive at least double that amount in dental care, gas subsidies, food supplies, and many others. A lot of the financial support we used to get has now been slashed,” he explained.Hezbollah used to pay a bonus to fighters deployed in Syria, but has since limited its deployment due declining fighting and also because of significant budget cuts.Corruption, which already plagued certain aspects of the organization, is now becoming common within lower ranks as many are vying for scarce resources.“To get extra financial support or food aid, you need to be close to certain commanders. It’s all about wasta now. That never happened before, the organization used to operate in a fair manner and took good care of its fighters. That is not the case anymore,” says Abou Hadi.The depreciation of the Lebanese pound is making matters worse, as Hezbollah fighters are now struggling to make ends meet, a problem that as members of the group, they never had to deal with before.Hezbollah’s fighters have largely borne the cost of increased sanctions, but the leadership continues to invest in medical equipment and facilities.A non-governmental organization medical source who collaborates with Hezbollah hospitals underlines that “the organization has brand new hospitals with good care standards, maintained by professional healthcare providers.”According to a study by Middle East Policy Center, Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Unit operates at least three hospitals, 12 health centers, 20 infirmaries, and 20 dental clinics. The Islamic Health unit is also involved in a number of initiatives, such as offering free health insurance, mental care and prescription-drug coverage.Hezbollah’s Foundation for the Wounded provides aid to civilians who have been injured during the conflict with Israel.Read more:Banks burn as Lebanon’s Tripoli rises up in hungerLebanon's c. bank governor says no need for haircut on deposits, plot against him
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Hezbollah's coronavirus spending leaves its fighters without medical, food support

Qatari journalist and opposition activist Fahd Bohendi has reportedly died in a prison in Qatar, with a human rights organization saying that he had been tortured.Human rights organizations have called for an investigation into the case, said the Gulf Association For Rights And Freedoms (GAFHAR) on Tuesday, which alleged that Fahd Bohandi was tortured to death after rebelling against prison officers.“According to a statement by human rights organizations, the detainee #Fahad_Bohendi, a #Qatari_journalist opposed to the regime, was arbitrarily imprisoned for three years, deprived of the most basic human right inside the prison, and then killed under torture,” wrote GAFHAR on Twitter.Bohendi, a Qatari who had a degree from the UK’s Teesside University, was reportedly arrested three years ago due to his work as a social media activist.According to GAFHAR, Bohendi had recently joined a group of fellow prisoners and rebelled against prison guards because they were scared of the spread of coronavirus in the prison. He was transferred to a solitary cell, where he went on hunger strike and was then moved to the Abu Hamour prison.In Abu Hamour, Bohendi was “beaten, injured, and then died because of torture,” said GAFHAR, adding that authorities buried him in an unknown location without allowing his family to see the body.GAFHAR quoted the Arab Organization for Human Rights in UK and Europe, the Gulf League for Rights and Freedoms, and the African Organization for Heritage and Human Rights as blaming Qatari authorities for Bohendi’s death.“The Qatari officials must be held accountable for this crime,” the organization tweeted.Bohendi was aged 37 and leaves behind a wife and two children.The Twitter hashtag “Martyr Fahd Bohendi” was trending in both the UAE and Qatar this week after the reports surfaced.Read more:Coronavirus: Qatar announces 643 new cases in similar rise, total now over 12,000Swiss to try PSG chief, Qatari BeIN Sports CEO Nasser al-Khelaifi in SeptemberSons of Qatar: Human rights violations against al-Ghufran tribe
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Journalist dies in prison in Qatar after alleged torture

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways on Wednesday said it now plans to start operating regular passenger flights from June 16, delaying the resumption for a second time this month.The airline has opened bookings for flights across its network from June 16, it said in a statement, though cautioned that could change should current restrictions be extended.Etihad on April 25 said it would extend the suspension until at least May 16 due to the coronavirus outbreak. It earlier planned to start resuming flights from May 1.Read more:Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways extends suspension of scheduled flights Coronavirus: UAE's Etihad to resume partial flights in May, says airline's CEOCoronavirus: Etihad to operate special flights to Europe, Japan in April
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Etihad Airways delays regular passenger flights until June 16

Saudi Arabia recorded 1,325 new coronavirus cases and five new deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 21,402 and the death toll to 157, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.Out of the newly reported cases, Saudi Arabian citizens make up only 15 percent. Meanwhile, 85 percent of the new cases were detected in non-Saudis, ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said.Five non-Saudi Arabian citizens died due to complications from the virus, he added.They were between the ages of 25 and 52, and lived in the Eastern Province and Mecca. Most of them had chronic illnesses, he said.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Out of the 1,325 new cases, 356 were confirmed in Mecca,225 in Medina, 224 in Jeddah, and 203 in Riyadh.The other cases were reported in cities and provinces around the Kingdom.Meanwhile, 2,953 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia.Authorities in Saudi Arabia continue to urge people to stay at home unless necessary despite having relaxed some restrictions and curfews at the start of the holy month of Ramadan.Citizens and residents are allowed to go out for necessary needs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. but must adhere to precautionary measures such as wearing a face mask and maintaining social distancing practices.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s mosques will not reopen for Ramadan, says MinistryCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s al-Sudais marks thermal cameras launch in Kaaba
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 1,325 new cases, five deaths

Cairo is investigating the writer of an pseudonymous editorial that earned his Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper a hefty fine for suggesting autonomy for the Sinai Peninsula.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Sinai editorial lands Egyptian journalist in hot water

Earlier this week, owners and managers of Abu Dhabi commercial centres were told they must screen employees to be allowed to re-open their businesses
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Over 20,000 Abu Dhabi malls employees tested for Covid-19

Irrfan Khan starred in Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and The Amazing Spider-Man
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Globally acclaimed Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan dies at 53