via brookings.edu03/02/2021
Steven Heydemann explores the sources of social and economic resilience in the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as the understudied solidarity-based social mechanisms that have created and sustained such resilience in the past, but which are now coming under increasing strain.
via governor.pa.gov03/01/2021
Gov. Wolf and Acting Sec. of Health Beam today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System dashboard, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 12,967, a statewide percent positivity of 6.3% and 26 counties with substantial transmission status.
via news.un.org02/26/2021
The holding of free and fair elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will help “clear the path” for restoring a legitimate political horizon to realize a long sought two-State solution, the leading UN diplomat for the region told the Security Council on Friday. |
via local21news02/25/2021
Sharon Zook knows what it’s like to lose a loved one. She’s lost two of her uncles during the pandemic, both from Plain communities. “We just couldn’t be there in their most difficult time,” said Zook. “We couldn’t, just couldn’t travel the way that we normally did so it really felt like we were, like I was letting them deal with this on their own. ” 91-year-old Amos Shrock and 83-year-old Raymond Miller were by all accounts healthy for their age and did what they could to stay that way.
via wionews02/24/2021
The World Bank has threatened to suspend its multi-million-dollar financing for Lebanon's coronavirus vaccine programme if the politicians keep jumping the line. Local media and officials of Lebanon have claimed that several lawmakers jumped the line for the coronavirus vaccines by getting shots in parliament on Tuesday. This has come as the locals, especially the priority and vulnerable groups, are struggling to get a shot of the vaccine amid an extended surge of cases.
via worldview.stratfor02/23/2021
The World Bank threatened to suspend financing for vaccines and other COVID-19 support to Lebanon after reports emerged that members of Parliament and several dozen parliamentary employees would receive vaccines before they were eligible under the country's vaccination plan, Naharnet reported Feb. 23.
via wbng02/23/2021
JERUSALEM — Israel says it has decided to share a small quantity of its coronavirus vaccines with the Palestinians and other unidentified countries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says although Israel has purchased vaccines for its own population, it has accumulated a small surplus of unused COVID-19 vaccines. “Therefore, it has been decided to assist
via futuredirections.org.au03/02/2021
Many Middle Eastern countries were experiencing heightened levels of food insecurity even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Economic shocks related to regional and global lockdown measures, and conflict in some parts of the region have further reduced food security. It is expected that the regional food security situation will remain precarious for the foreseeable future.
via arabnews02/27/2021
CAIRO: Tourism in Egypt will return to pre-pandemic levels by fall 2022, according to a government minister. Khaled Al-Anani, who is minister of tourism and antiquities, said the sector’s recovery and restoration to pre-pandemic levels would be because of countries’ COVID-19 vaccination programs as well as Egypt’s efforts in developing archaeological sites in the Red Sea and
via arabnews02/25/2021
NEW YORK: The UN Secretary-General has extended the mandate of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon from March 1 for a further two years, “or until the completion of the cases before the Special Tribunal, if sooner, or the exhaustion of available funds, if sooner,” the secretary-general’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced on Thursday. The mandate of the Special Tribunal for
via republicworld02/24/2021
Stay informed with today’s latest news from India & around the world. Get all the breaking news & current Indian news on politics, sports and entertainment only on Republic World. We provide the most in-depth coverage of top national news with timely breaking of all the recent news on politics, sports & entertainment
via thepointsguy02/23/2021
Editor’s note: This post was updated Feb. 23, 2021 with new information. The time has finally come when COVID-19 vaccination programs in countries all over the world are in full swing. And there’s hope for a return of at least some aspects of pre-COVID-19 normalcy. As more of the world’s population gets vaccinated, travel could …
via wfyi.org02/23/2021
As American healthcare workers received COVID vaccines, many were relieved and hopeful. But many doctors who are foreign-born also describe a bittersweet feeling. They worry about family and friends back home who have little access to the vaccines. And it could be a long wait -- dozens of countries still have not received any vaccine doses.
via local21news02/22/2021
Candice Highfield is remembered as someone who lived life fiercely and passionately; as someone who loved to travel and take in the sounds of waves on the shore. She also remembered as a social worker for Hempfield, and a home and school visitor who dedicated her life to bettering the lives of children and their families. SEE ALSO: US tops 500,000 virus deaths, matching the toll of 3 wars. On January 7, 2021 Candice succumbed to COVID-19, after a two-month long battle.
via arabnews02/27/2021
BEIRUT: The leader of Lebanon’s influential Christian Maronite church has warned that the country is facing the threat of a “full-fledged coup,” and called for an international conference to avert “chaos, hunger and oppression.” In an emotional address to thousands of followers on Saturday, Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai said that he was “drawing red lines for anyone who
via arabnews02/26/2021
The murder of Lebanese cultural entrepreneur and political activist Lokman Slim this month has led to a resurgence of the kind of demands for accountability and “the truth” that protesters in Beirut called for in 2005 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which investigated the murder of Hariri, already
via lebtown02/25/2021
Through the brick project, the organizers hope to raise as much money as they can for the funding of the First Responders’ Memorial, shooting for as much as $120,000 of the estimated $175,000 to $200,000 total cost. The bricks can be engraved by a laser with a short message, motto or emblem like a cross, a police badge or a fire helmet. Although the fundraising project is still very much in the early planning stages, the organizers have already sold 26 bricks to date, and they’re hoping to sell as many as 2,000.
via arabnews02/24/2021
LONDON: Britons and Lebanese are enduring some of the strictest lockdown conditions in the world, an analysis by Oxford University has found. Only Eritrea’s and Venezuela’s lockdowns are stricter, according to a tracker compiled by Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. Lebanon’s lockdown policies are marginally tougher than Britain’s. The analysis, which looked at measures
via local21news02/23/2021
Half a million deaths across our country, almost 24,000 here at home in Pennsylvania. The loss of each and every Pennsylvanian to this virus, heartbreaking and its why CBS 21 News is sharing their stories. On Tuesday, CBS 21’s Ryan Eldredge met with the daughter of Eleanor S. Hoke to share her story. SEE ALSO:'It wasn't enough': Lebanon woman remembered as US tops 500k COVID deaths.
via waow02/23/2021
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden says the administration expects to send millions of masks to people around the country “very shortly.” Such a plan was considered and dropped by Donald Trump’s administration. Biden didn’t provide details, including cost, timing and the type of mask to be shipped. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a