Author: News Desk

The second repatriation flight from Bahrain to Kozhikode, as part of the Vande Bharat Mission, departed at 6:20 pm (8:50 pm IST). 184 people including 180 adults and 4 children travelled in the flight to Kozhikode. The 180 adults include about 20 pregnant ladies. https://www.facebook.com/starvisionnews/videos/563210317732619/ The Indian Embassy of Bahrain has given priority to those who have lost their jobs, pregnant women, those who have visiting visas, those who have expired or cancelled expatriates.

Employees, business owners, police and trade unions in Britain expressed confusion Monday after the government switched from telling workers to stay at home to urging them to return to work — but preferably without getting near other people or using public transport. In a televised statement Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson extended most of the draconian restrictions on daily life imposed March 23 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including closing schools, restaurants and most shops. He also sketched out how the lockdown will be eased in stages if the number of infections in the U.K. continues to fall.…

The number of the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the GCC exceeds 100,000 on Monday, according to the latest official tallies. 563 deaths were reported from the six countries. Saudi Arabia, GCC’s most populous country, tops the list with a total of 41,014 cases resulting in the death of 255 COVID-19 patients. Then comes Qatar with 32,623 infections and 20 deaths. The country with a population of 2.6 million people, has the world’s highest infections per 100,000 people. The UAE has so far reported 18,198 infections including 198 deaths, while Kuwait has recorded a total of 9,286 cases resulting in 65 deaths. Bahrain confirmed…

A fire broke out in the Dubai Expo 2020 site on Monday. The Emirati officials said no one was injured from the fire. Dubai Civil Defence quickly responded and firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control. The blaze saw thick black smoke rise over the site of the world’s fair in the southern edge of Dubai, one of seven sheikhdoms in the United Arab Emirates. https://twitter.com/expo2020dubai/status/1259750559076298752?s=20 The fire was caused by a problem during welding works, according to the officials. Earlier this month, a Paris-based body behind the events said that Expo 2020 world’s fair would be postponed to October…

The Oman Ministry of Health recorded 174 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the Sultanate to 3,573. The Ministry added that 36 of the new cases were Omani citizens, and the rest 138 were foreign citizens. Oman’s death toll remains at 17, as no new deaths are not reported.

Move permits can be now claimed during the National Disinfection Programme through the Abu Dhabi police website, www.adpolice.gov.ae. Those going out for absolute necessity, including visiting hospital or pharmacy, or buying essential needs, and don’t have move permits during the Programme timing, have to provide evidence on the reasoning behind their emergency. All the entities, whose employees can’t abide by the National Disinfection Programme timings due to the nature of their work, have to provide the National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority with lists of the names of these employees and their car plate numbers, to exempt them automatically from…

China has issued a lengthy rebuttal of what it said were 24 “preposterous allegations” by some leading U.S. politicians over its handling of the new coronavirus outbreak. According to Reuters, the Chinese foreign ministry has dedicated most of its press briefings over the past week to rejecting accusations by U.S. politicians, especially Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, that China had withheld information about the new coronavirus and that it had originated in a laboratory in the city of Wuhan. A 30-page, 11,000-word article posted on the ministry website on Saturday night repeated and expanded on the refutations made during the…

The White House has begun informal talks with Republicans and Democrats in Congress about next steps on coronavirus relief legislation, a top economic adviser to President Donald Trump said on Sunday, reported Reuters. “It’s not that we’re not talking. We are. It’s just informal at this stage,” White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told ABC’s “This Week” program. “We’re collecting ideas for next steps, which will undoubtedly be data-driven.” Kudlow said that he joined a Friday conference call with lawmakers from both parties in the House of Representatives and planned to do the same on Monday with members of the…

The second Indian repatriation flight from Doha to Trivandrum got cancelled today. The reason for the cancellation is not clear, reported the Qatar Peninsula. A senior Indian embassy official said that the cancelation is due to technical reasons. It is not clear if the flight will be rescheduled to a later date or cancelled completely. The Air India Express flight was expected to carry around 180 passengers to Trivandrum this afternoon. Yesterday another flight carrying 178 passengers left for Kochi.

Indian Ladies Association (ILA) donated BD 501 to Feena_Khair, the national fundraising campaign to fight COVID-19. The amount was collected from the members as part of the ILA’s Workers Welfare Subcommittee’s monthly donation drive. ILA  commends the efforts of the Government of Bahrain for their excellent efforts in combating COVID-19. Indian Ladies Association also donated over 600 face masks to expatriate workers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as part of labour day. ILA’s President Ms. Reena Sreedhar handed over the masks to the ICRF Chairman Mr. Arul Das in the presence of other ICRF and ILA officials.