Author: News Desk

Israel reimposed on Monday a series of restrictions to fight a spike in coronavirus infections, including the immediate closure of bars, gyms and event halls. In public remarks at a special cabinet session on the health crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had to reverse course to avoid a wider lockdown that could paralyse its economy, where unemployment is just above 20%. The Bank of Israel on Monday forecast a 6% economic contraction. “The pandemic is spreading – that’s as clear as day. It is rising steeply daily and it is dragging with it, contrary to what we had…

The UAE is moving forward towards accomplishing more global achievements in the field of space, as the Emirates Mars Mission, “Hope Probe,” will launch in nine days. The Hope Probe, the first Arab project aims to explore other planets, is a message of hope to all peoples of the region to revive the rich history of Arab and Islamic scientific achievements. It also reflects the UAE’s ambitious and ongoing efforts to defy the impossible. The probe’s launch team members, currently in Japan, held a media interview remotely via video conferencing, where they expressed their pride at participating in the pioneering…

India on Monday overtook Russia to record the world’s third-highest number of coronavirus infections at nearly 700,000, even as its hardest-hit state said it will allow hotels to reopen this week. Health ministry data from the world’s second-most populous country showed more than 23,000 new cases on Monday, down slightly from Sunday’s record increase of almost 25,000. There have been almost 20,000 deaths in India since the first case was detected there in January. India now trails only the United States and Brazil in the number of COVID-19 cases and it has recorded eight times as many cases as China,…

India has withdrawn a planned reopening of the Taj Mahal, citing the risk of new coronavirus infections spreading in the northern city of Agra from visitors flocking to see the 17th century monument to love. Local authorities issued a new advisory late on Sunday ordering an extension of lockdown curbs on monuments in and around Agra. The government order did not specify the duration of the lockdown for monuments that have been closed since March. “In the interest of the public, it has been decided that opening monuments in Agra will not be advisable as of now”, the district authorities…

Oman has registered five deaths and 1,557 new cases of coronavirus, of which the majority of the case are from citizens by 1,057 and the rest 500 from foreigners, taking the total cases to 47,735. The death toll reached 218 after reporting the new deaths. Meanwhile, 1,229 new recoveries were announced, bringing the total to 29,146. 3,852 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, across the sultanate. So far the 213,187 COVID-19 tests have been conducted. https://twitter.com/OmaniMOH/status/1280064050118918144?s=20

Ennio Morricone, the Italian composer whose credits include the “spaghetti” Westerns that made Clint Eastwood a star, has died in Rome aged 91. According to Italian news agency Ansa, he died in hospital having fractured his femur in a fall some days ago. The prolific composer also wrote music for Once Upon a Time in America, The Untouchables and Cinema Paradiso. Having received an honorary Oscar in 2007, he went on to win one in 2016 for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Morricone, who was simply known as “Maestro” in his home town of Rome, scored more than 500 films…

The Dalai Lama made a bid for music chart stardom on Monday, his 85th birthday, with the release of an album of mantras and teachings. “Inner World” kicks off with the track “One Of My Favourite Prayers” and continues with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader reciting meditations and sayings with accompanying music. The record came about when musician Junelle Kunin, a student of the Dalai Lama from New Zealand, contacted him in 2015 with the idea – and much to her surprise he said yes. “I thought I’d have to try and convince him,” she told Reuters in an interview…

Bahrain has announced the death of a 92-year-old male citizen from coronavirus. So far the total has reached up to 98. It’s the oldest deceased from COVID-19. The MOH expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased. The total cases have driven to 29,367 of which 24,649 have recovered, which means that over 83 percent of the confirmed cases have recovered from the virus. Currently, there are 4,620 active cases. Also, there are 53 COVID-19 cases receiving treatment, of which 45 are in a critical condition. So far the country has conducted 602,151 tests, as per the government statics.

Bahrain has reported 510 new cases of coronavirus, among 284 expatriate workers, 223 new cases are contacts of active cases, and 3 are travel-related, after conducting over 9,800 additional COVID-19 tests on Sunday. The death toll stands at 97, as one new death was reported in the kingdom. Meanwhile, 690 additional recoveries from COVID-19 were reported. The total cases have driven to 29,367 of which 24,649 have recovered, which means that over 83 percent of the confirmed cases have recovered from the virus. Currently, there are 4,621 active cases. Also, there are 53 COVID-19 cases receiving treatment, of which 45 are in…

A total of 1,036, new e-commerce licences were issued in the UAE during the first six months of 2020, according to National Economic Registry of the Ministry of Economy, indicating a growth in the sector. The statistics showed that the number of e-commerce licences issued in May and June 2020 amounted to 112, a 12.1 percent rise compared to April 2020. The Ministry noted that in light of the growing interest of investors in e-commerce activities, many specialist studies expect this sector to grow in the future. “The demand for online shopping has witnessed a significant increase by over 300…