Middle East Experience

"I am embarrassed by this incident and apologize to the citizens of Alton for any embarrassment this incident may cause our city," the mayor said.;
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Police find US mayor's wife in a bar while raiding social gatherings

The United States agrees with the recent assessment of a global chemical weapons watchdog that found the Syrian regime used banned weapons against its own people, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: State Department backs up watchdog report on Syria chemical weapons use

Bahrain announced that shopping malls and some stores will reopen on April 9, joining only a few countries worldwide in loosening restrictions imposed to slow the spread of novel coronavirus.Shop workers and customers will be required to wear masks while they are in the stores, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism said.Retailers must also control the number of people in shops at any one time to prevent overcrowding, and ensure that surfaces are disinfected regularly, the ministry added.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Read more: Coronavirus: Which countries will re-open first?Seef Properties, the leading property management company in Bahrain, announced that it would reopen all stores at its malls, including all shops at Seef Mall in the Seef district, Seef Mall in the city of Muharraq, and Seef Mall in Isa Town.The decision comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Bahrain rose to 823 with five virus-related deaths.Bahrain was among the first countries in the Arabian Gulf to enforce strict restrictions, including closing all movie theaters, gyms, public swimming pools, and theme parks on March 18.The restrictions seem to have slowed down the rate of infection, with the number of new cases falling in recent days.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabian citizens stranded in Bahrain return homeCoronavirus: Arab Coalition declares Yemen ceasefire, says Saudi Press AgencyCoronavirus: Saudi cases jump 327 to 2,932 total, 631 recoveriesEveryone must wear a mask in public starting from April 9, the Ministry of Health said, adding that violators will be fined 10,000 Bahraini dinars ($26, 518) and could face a three-month jail term.Gyms, public swimming pools, shisha cafes, beauty parlors, and entertainment parks will be closed until April 23, the health ministry announced.Supermarkets and food stores must still designate their first opening hour to the elderly and pregnant women to minimize their risk of infection.Public gatherings over more than five people are also prohibited, and everyone is urged to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, the ministry added.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Bahrain one of first nations to ease lockdown as malls reopen

Many irregular workers in Egypt are turning a blind eye to the curfew and measures imposed by authorities and heading to work, as they are concerned about making ends meet.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Millions of Egyptians out in the streets despite coronavirus lockdown

Reentry visas to Saudi Arabia which were set to expire between February 25 and May 24 will be extended for three months without charge, according to orders from King Salman bin Abdulaziz reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Wednesday.Saudi Arabia has taken various measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, including imposing lockdowns and curfews on major cities and limiting domestic and international travel. The Kingdom has also temporarily halted access for the Umrah pilgrimage, one of its major sources of visitors.According to the SPA, this latest measure is aimed at reducing the economic impact of coronavirus restrictions. It allows expatriates who work in the commercial field and are already in the Kingdom to extend their visa while travel to and from the Kingdom is currently suspended.The announcement added that the visas will be automatically extended by the General Directorate of Passports, so visa holders are not required to go to the office and manually renew. Visa holders can also use the Absher app to access the service electronically.Read more:Coronavirus: Bahrain one of first nations to ease lockdown as malls reopenCoronavirus: Saudi Arabian citizens stranded in Bahrain return homeSaudi Arabia coronavirus curfew: Ten questions answeredCoronavirus: Saudi cases jump 327 to 2,932 total, 631 recoveries
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman extends expiring reentry visas for 3 months

The United Arab Emirates is showing openness to Iran during the coronavirus crisis, which could point to the UAE’s aim to break loose of the policies of its tradition Saudi ally.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s diverging regional coronavirus strategy

Dubai’s government is freezing all hiring and cutting administrative spending by at least 20 percent across departments as the coronavirus pandemic squeezes state revenue.The emirate’s Department of Finance on Wednesday also ordered a 50 percent reduction in capital spending and a delay to new government construction projects, according to a letter sent to all state departments by Director General Abdulrahman Al Saleh and seen by Bloomberg.A representative for the Department of Finance couldn’t immediately comment.Dubai, the Middle East transport and business hub, is seeking to shore up its finances by cutting spending and raising funds. The deadly coronavirus has shut down much of the economy, heavily dependent on tourism, trade and retail, while lower oil prices are hurting federal coffers.Dubai Weighs Bond and Emirates Mulls Loans as Virus Hits EconomyThe Department of Finance’s measures include:• Freezing all hiring and stopping all promotions.• Suspending payments for travel, car and mobile phone allowances to employees.• Halting all spending earmarked for conferences, training and other events• Reviewing all existing contracts.• Cutting capital spending by a minimum 50 percent.• Reducing spending on ongoing construction projects by ensuring no cost overruns and conducting value engineering for all projects as well as delaying new projects.The government is in talks with banks to raise funding, while Emirates, its flag carrier, is mulling billions of dollars of loans. Dubai, one of the seven sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, raised 1 billion dirhams ($272 million) from the private placement of Islamic bonds. It’s also discussing other financing options, according to people with knowledge of the matter.Abu Dhabi and Qatar raised a combined $17 billion in bond sales this week.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai supermarkets to provide space for suppliers to sell basic goodsCoronavirus: Dubai suspends marriage, divorce during lockdownCoronavirus: Restaurants in Dubai say they are unsure when they will reopen
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai government announces hiring freeze, spending cuts

Dubai announced on Wednesday the launch of new 24-hour hotline dedicated to reporting cases of child abuse, neglect, and violence – a timely initiative as coronavirus preventative measures have led to children spending more time at home and away from school and health institutions.The channel, which will allow community members to report incidents to authorities, is part of an effort to enhance child protection programs in the emirate, according to state news agency WAM.The hotline is being set up “in light of the prevailing distance education policy and the current circumstances keeping children away from educational and health institutions,” according to the WAM report.The decision was made by Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA), which is responsible for setting up and developing frameworks for social development in Dubai.Director General of the CDA Ahmed Julfar told WAM the hotline will simplify procedures and unify channels to report violations against child protection. Before, reports were received from various authorities in Dubai, “making it difficult to monitor the situation of the children,” according to WAM.“The unified hotline…provides greater ease in the procedures for reporting cases of abuse and neglect,” Julfar told WAM. “The hotline also guarantees confidentiality of the person reporting the incident and speeds up action on the abuse cases. It also encourages the detection of all cases of abuse and neglect,”CDA will receive reports confidentially through its 24/7 hotline (800988) that will then be evaluated according to severity and assigned to a child protection specialist. Subsequently, a CDA official will again evaluate cases according to their severity and will take appropriate action.As the coronavirus spreads around the world, there have been an uptick in reports of child abuse. International organizations such as the United Nations have warned that the restrictions on movement may mean children are more at risk of abuse at home.UN experts urged all governments on Tuesday to ensure child protection services are “adequately staffed and equipped,” including 24-hour hotlines.That way “we can make sure that children’s dignity and rights are protected and that no child bears the collateral consequences of this unprecedented pandemic,” the experts said in a UN press release.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai government announces hiring freeze, spending cutsCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia cases could reach 200,000 within weeks, says ministerOman to lock down Muscat governorate from April 10-22
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai announces new 24-hour hotline for reporting child abuse

Egypt, known as the Hollywood of the Middle East, now wonders whether nostalgia will draw in new audiences.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Why returning to classics may mean success for Egyptian cinema

Saudi Arabia records 355 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and three new virus-related deaths, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom rose to 3,287 while the total number of fatalities reached 44.Out of the 355 new cases, 89 were recorded in Medina, 83 in Riyadh, 78 in Mecca, and 45 in Jeddah, the ministry said.Also read: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabian citizens stranded in Bahrain return homeThe total number of recoveries in Saudi Arabia stands at 666.Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health had said earlier this week that four different studies showed that the number of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks.The ministry spokesman emphasized the urgent need for citizens and residents to remain at home and maintain social distancing practices to ensure that the virus does not spread further.He also commended those who have sent in their requests to volunteer to help officials and health aid workers contain the outbreak, adding that 80,000 people have submitted volunteer applications.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman extends expiring reentry visas for 3 monthsCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia cases could reach 200,000 within weeks, says minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 355 in 24 hours, three new deaths