UAE

Travel agents here told IANS that UAE expatriates are now reconsidering their travel plans abroad during the upcoming National Day and winter holidays due to fears over the Omicron virus. Sharjah-based travel agent Md. Jamal said he had received at least a dozen calls until Sunday evening from residents and visitors enquiring about travel restrictions.

Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin attended the Dubai International Air Chiefs' Conference last week, a meeting for air force commanders from around the globe held in the UAE, Xinhua news agency quoted the military saying on Sunday.

The UAE normalised ties with Israel following the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020 and Al Marar reaffirmed that the historic pact will not affect the UAE's support for the Palestinian cause. Al Marar was speaking on the opening day of the Emirates Policy Center's (EPC) eighth Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate (ADSD) held on Sunday.

"Discussed working together more closely on economic growth and global issues. Agreed on expeditious follow-up," India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting on Monday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Ministers Yair Lapid of Israel and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed of the UAE.

Travellers will be required to present a valid negative Covid-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours from the time of collecting the sample and from an approved health service, which use the QR code system, as well as Rapid PCR test report conducted at the departure airport 6 hours prior to departure, provided with a QR code system.

However, there has been no further details given to the media, according to a BBC report. The bitumen tanker was seized on Tuesday heading into the congested approach to the Strait of Hormuz. It is not clear who seized the ship, but analysts suspected Iranian forces. Iran's Revolutionary Guards dismissed the reports of possible involvement as a pretext for "hostile action" against Tehran.