Author: News Desk

Abu Dhabi Police have warned that motorists seen throwing surgical masks from their car are liable to fines of Dh1,000 and six blacks points. The warning was tweeted on Saturday and follows a similar warning from Ajman Police on June 1 that stated the same Dh1,000, six black point sanction. It is not yet known if the fine is a nationwide initiative as so far only police force’s from two emirates have publicly announced it. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mubark Al Ghafli, head of the police health and safety committee, said that the correct way to discard of a mask was…

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister, Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, has stressed that the Agriculture and Marine Resources Department will strengthen its partnership with the private sector in the field of fish farming in order to increase the productivity of the Bahrain National Mariculture Centre (NMC) in Ras Hayan. This came as the minister paid a visit to NMC, along with the Agriculture and Marine Resources Undersecretary, Dr. Nabeel Abu Al-Fateh, and senior Marine biologist, Bassam Al-Showeikh. The minister was informed about the general condition of NMC’s facilities, and stressed the importance of their maintenance ahead of the new…

Saudi Arabia has reported 3,121 new coronavirus infections during the past 24 hours, its highest daily toll so far, raising the total to 98,869, according to the health ministry. Meanwhile, 34 more people succumbed to the deadly virus taking the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 676. It is the highest death toll in the kingdom. Ministry also reported 1,175 recoveries, lowest recoveries in the past weeks, taking the overall number of recovered cases to 71,791. https://twitter.com/media_ksa/status/1269249249612648451?s=20 Saudi currently has the highest number of cases in the region, however, it is also by far the largest country in the GCC, both…

Kuwait has reported a drop of 487 new coronavirus cases, most of the cases are from Kuwaiti citizens which is 195, taking the total confirmed cases in the country 31,131, according to the Ministry of Health. 10 patients died of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 254. 1,005 new recoveries have been reported in the country, raising the total recoveries to 19,282. Kuwait has done 2,724 NP swab tests in the past 24 hours, as the country ramps up its efforts to test more people and detect cases early, according to the…

Bahrain has reported 389 new cases of coronavirus among 200 expatriate workers and 157 contacts of active cases and 32 are travel-related. 1 death was reported in the kingdom, bringing the fatalities toll to 23. Meanwhile, 435 additional recoveries from COVID-19 were reported. The newly registered cases bring the total cases to 14,224 of which 9,020 have recovered making over 63 percent of the confirmed cases to recover from the virus. Currently, there are 5,181 active cases. Also, the are 80 COVID-19 cases receiving treatment, of which 13 are in a critical condition. So far the country has conducted 359,379 tests, which is among…

The United Arab Emirates today sent an aid plane containing 18 metric tons of medical and food supplies to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to bolster the country’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. The aid will assist approximately 14,000 medical professionals as they work to contain the virus. Commenting on the aid delivery, Hamad Ghanim Hamad Al Mehairi, UAE Ambassador to Mauritania, stated: “The UAE is honored to extend assistance today to Mauritania in recognition of the country’s tireless fight against COVID-19. Through cooperation and global coordination, we can work together to overcome these challenging circumstances and aim…

India reported a record 9,887 new coronavirus cases in one day on Saturday and overtook Italy as the world’s sixth-biggest outbreak, two days before the relaxing of lockdown with the reopening of malls, restaurants and places of worship. With its total number of cases rising to more than 236,000, India now has fewer infections than only the United States, Brazil, Russia, Britain and Spain, according to a Reuters tally. However, India’s toll of deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is 6,642, small compared with those other countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, anxious to jump-start an economy…

Saudi authorities have closed down 39 mosques again in the kingdom after coronavirus infections were suspected among worshippers or those in charge of the sites, Al Arabiya reported. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Call as part of strict health measures to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease. Those mosques are being sterilized, the television added without specifying their locations. Last week, Saudi Arabia reopened mosques except in Mecca, in line with a plan to gradually return to normal life. Authorities have put in place a set of precautions for performing group prayers…

The Group of 20 rich and emerging economies has pledged more than $21 billion to fight the coronavirus, the group said early on Saturday. “The G20, with invited countries, has coordinated the global efforts to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, G20 members and invited countries have pledged over US$21 billion to support funding in global health,” the group said in a statement. The pledges will be directed towards diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and research and development, the statement added. In April the group called on all countries, non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and the private sector to help close…

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued directives to increase the monthly allowances for the 11,000 orphans and widows sponsored by the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF). HM King Hamad directed RHF, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and RHF’s Board of Trustees Chairman, to oversee the reimbursement of the extra amount and follow up on the implementation of the kind royal gesture aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by orphans and widows. On the occasion, HH Shaikh…