A woman attends her appointment for a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC), in Manama, Bahrain December 24, 2020. Reuters
A woman attends her appointment for a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC), in Manama, Bahrain December 24, 2020. Reuters
A woman attends her appointment for a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC), in Manama, Bahrain December 24, 2020. Reuters
A woman attends her appointment for a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC), in Manama, Bahrain December 24, 2020. Reuters

Bahrain restricts restaurants and schools to contain the coronavirus pandemic


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Bahrain will suspend dine-in services at restaurants and cafes and move public and private schools to remote learning for three weeks, starting from January 31, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry said it had detected a new variant of coronavirus in a number of cases, without specifying which kind. The new lockdown measures will come into effect on Sunday.

Lieutenant General Tariq Al Hassan, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, confirmed that security efforts will continue to confront the pandemic, noting that the Ministry of Interior is working to intensify law enforcement campaigns, according to the Bahrain News Agency.

Lt Gen Al Hassan indicated that police directorates in the governorates continue to take legal measures against violators that do not wear a face mask in public places and flout the necessary measures to maintain social distancing standards.

He said that during the first three weeks of January, 8901 face mask violations were reported, as well as 518 cases of large gatherings.

There has been an uptick in coronavirus cases in the Gulf kingdom since December. The country registered 459 new cases on Wednesday, adding to a total of nearly 100,000 since the start of the pandemic, with 370 deaths.

The small island state has the third highest rate of vaccinations per capita in the world so far, according to the Our World in Data website, which is run by an Oxford University research programme.

Bahrain offers its citizens either the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one manufactured by Chinese state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm free of charge.

The kingdom also approved the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on Monday for emergency use.

  • Healthcare workers wearing masks cross the street in central Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National
    Healthcare workers wearing masks cross the street in central Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National
  • Cleaners are always present around Al Fay Park on Reem Island. Victor Besa/The National
    Cleaners are always present around Al Fay Park on Reem Island. Victor Besa/The National
  • A picture taken with a drone shows the roads almost empty during the nationwide lockdown in Jal El Dib area north Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon on 07 January began a complete 25-day closure nationwide, which was extended by the Supreme Defense Council until 08 February, to curb the spread of the coronavirus EPA
    A picture taken with a drone shows the roads almost empty during the nationwide lockdown in Jal El Dib area north Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon on 07 January began a complete 25-day closure nationwide, which was extended by the Supreme Defense Council until 08 February, to curb the spread of the coronavirus EPA
  • A picture taken with a drone shows the roads almost empty during the nationwide lockdown in Dora area north Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon on 07 January began a complete 25-day closure nationwide, which was extended by the Supreme Defense Council until 08 February, to curb the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA
    A picture taken with a drone shows the roads almost empty during the nationwide lockdown in Dora area north Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon on 07 January began a complete 25-day closure nationwide, which was extended by the Supreme Defense Council until 08 February, to curb the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA
  • Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior in Gaza City announced on 05 December 2020 full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays until further notice to curb the spread of COVID-19. EPA
    Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior in Gaza City announced on 05 December 2020 full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays until further notice to curb the spread of COVID-19. EPA
  • Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior in Gaza City announced on 05 December 2020 full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays until further notice to curb the spread of COVID-19. EPA
    Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior in Gaza City announced on 05 December 2020 full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays until further notice to curb the spread of COVID-19. EPA
  • Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. EPA
    Palestinians walk in the streets after the authorities eased restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, amid a coronavirus lockdown in Gaza City. EPA
  • People ski amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the western mountain resort of Uludag in Bursa, Turkey. Reuters
    People ski amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the western mountain resort of Uludag in Bursa, Turkey. Reuters
  • Jordanian teenager, Omar, 14, fixes a kerosene heater in a workshop where he works in Amman. Many minors have been forced prematurely into the labour market in Jordan due to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts say. Schools in Amman and throughout the country have been closed for nearly a year now, while economic fallout from the pandemic has eaten into breadwinners' ability to feed their families. AFP
    Jordanian teenager, Omar, 14, fixes a kerosene heater in a workshop where he works in Amman. Many minors have been forced prematurely into the labour market in Jordan due to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts say. Schools in Amman and throughout the country have been closed for nearly a year now, while economic fallout from the pandemic has eaten into breadwinners' ability to feed their families. AFP
  • A Jordanian youth uses a hand cart to work in Amman's Wahdat district. Many minors have been forced prematurely into the labour market in Jordan due to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts say. Schools in Amman and throughout the country have been closed for nearly a year now, while economic fallout from the pandemic has eaten into breadwinners' ability to feed their families. AFP
    A Jordanian youth uses a hand cart to work in Amman's Wahdat district. Many minors have been forced prematurely into the labour market in Jordan due to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts say. Schools in Amman and throughout the country have been closed for nearly a year now, while economic fallout from the pandemic has eaten into breadwinners' ability to feed their families. AFP
  • Armoured military vehicles patrol in Morocco's western city of Casablanca, amid restrictions and a health state of emergency imposed by the authorities in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
    Armoured military vehicles patrol in Morocco's western city of Casablanca, amid restrictions and a health state of emergency imposed by the authorities in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
  • Armoured military vehicles patrol in Morocco's western city of Casablanca, amid restrictions and a health state of emergency imposed by the authorities in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
    Armoured military vehicles patrol in Morocco's western city of Casablanca, amid restrictions and a health state of emergency imposed by the authorities in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte

Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000

Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm

Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm

Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

While you're here
A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

The Greatest Royal Rumble card

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto

How to increase your savings
  • Have a plan for your savings.
  • Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
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  • It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings. 

- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

 

 

City's slump

L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Results

2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly

3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years