Author: News Desk

A group of Bahrainis have launched an online campaign in support of expatriates whose businesses have come to a stop due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. Mosa’ab Al-Shaikh led the charity drive on his Twitter account after getting a phone call from a Filipina who is in trouble as her wages have not been paid. He received contributions from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait – enough to extend help to 250 expatriates. More than 2,000 parcels containing rice, sugar and other light meals and foodstuff were distributed to expatriates to cover their needs for seven to eight days.

Early voting in South Korea’s parliamentary election began on Friday with coronavirus patients casting ballots at disinfected polling stations and candidates bumping fists instead of pressing the flesh as they appeal for support. The election could decide the control of parliament and shape President Moon Jae-in’s ability to implement his agenda in the final two years of his administration, including looser fiscal policy aimed at creating jobs, raising the minimum wage, and continued re-engagement with North Korea. The National Election Commission set up eight polling stations for more than 3,000 coronavirus patients receiving treatment as well as 900 medical staff…

The UAE has conducted over 40,000 COVID-19 tests over the past two days involving various segments of society, including UAE citizens and residents. The accelerated check-up measures resulted in the detection of 331 new coronavirus cases of various nationalities, taking to 2,990 the total tally of infections in the UAE. The Ministry of Health and Prevention said that two patients suffering from chronic diseases had passed, bringing the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths to 14. The ministry also announced the full recovery of 29 new cases after receiving the necessary treatment, taking to 268, the total of those who got…

His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa directs KHK Heroes Board of Directors to initiate campaigns to support the vision HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Premier and HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty the King’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports. KHK Heroes is calling on Bahrain to make food donations, contribute financially, volunteer time to KHK Heroes or take up the challenge to create and post a video online and…

Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry has announced that one million medical face masks have been provided to pharmacies and supermarkets, bringing their total number to two million, as part of efforts to implement the preventive measures taken by the kingdom to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The move is in line with the decisions and precautionary measures taken by the Government Executive Committee and will take effect this evening. The measures include mainly the mandatory wearing of face masks whilst in public, and allowing commercial and industrial businesses to provide goods or services directly to customers to open and resume…

ISIS extremists on Thursday killed at least 18 regime fighters in an attack in central Syria, a war monitor said. Pro-government fighters backed by Russian airstrikes were battling off the extremists on the outskirts of the desert town of Al-Sukhna in Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The air raids and clashes killed 11 ISIS fighters, the Britain-based monitor said. “The Russian aviation intervened to stop the jihadists from advancing and retaking the town,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. Syrian regime forces recaptured Al-Sukhna from ISIS in 2017. Thursday’s attack was the deadliest in the area…

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…

A Kuwait Army transport plane returned home from China Wednesday, carrying tons of medical equipment and supplies to help the government curb spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Defense said. This is the seventh army plane as part of repatriation and delivery operations, aimed at providing logistical support for government bodies, the ministry said in a statement. This journey, it added, was in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Health to provide medical equipment and supplies. Earlier today, Kuwait Ambassador in Beijing Sameeh Hayat said the transport aircraft, which took off from the Chinese city of Guangzhou, was loaded…

UAE takes measures aimed at helping parents cope with the financial impact of global coronavirus pandemic. More educational institutions in the UAE are slashing their fees to accommodate parents’ requests, as they cope with the global pandemic fallout, reported Gulf News. Schools on Thursday announced a 20 per cent reduction in Term 3 school fees to help parents cope with the financial impact of the global shutdown. According to the new relief measures announced, 20 per cent of Term 3 fees (April to June 2020) will be applied as a credit towards Term 1 fees for 2020-2021. Students who leave…

According to Gulf News, an increasing number of retailers, including supermarkets, pharmacies, and clinics in the UAE are introducing anti-microbial barriers to main social distance and prevent the spread of coronavirus at customer interfaces. An anti-microbial shield is a transparent sheet, usually comprising a non-porous surface, which is installed at customer check-out counters or patient consultation points to prevent infections from being transmitted. Nandakumar. V, Chief Communications Officer of the Lulu Group of hypermarkets, told Gulf News, “We started installing these shields across our stores last week to keep both our staff and customers safe. Their safety and health are…