People attend mass prayers, expressing gratitude for the handling of the Covid-19 coronavirus and seeking blessings for the start of a 'new normal', at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People attend mass prayers, expressing gratitude for the handling of the Covid-19 coronavirus and seeking blessings for the start of a 'new normal', at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People attend mass prayers, expressing gratitude for the handling of the Covid-19 coronavirus and seeking blessings for the start of a 'new normal', at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People attend mass prayers, expressing gratitude for the handling of the Covid-19 coronavirus and seeking blessings for the start of a 'new normal', at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, o

Bali holds mass prayers as it prepares to reopen to tourists following coronavirus closure


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Bali conducted mass prayers on Sunday as the Indonesian resort island prepares to reopen to tourists shut out due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More than a thousand people attended a prayer at Besakih Hindu temple in the town of Karangasem, expressing gratitude for the handling of the new coronavirus on the island and seeking blessings for the start of a "new normal".

Bali has reported 1,849 coronavirus infections and 20 deaths so far, while Indonesia as a whole has recorded 63,749 cases and 3,171 deaths since early March.

Artists perform Sidakarya mask dancing during mass prayers at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, on July 5, 2020. Reuters
Artists perform Sidakarya mask dancing during mass prayers at Besakih temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, on July 5, 2020. Reuters

The idyllic Southeast Asian island will gradually reopen this month for domestic tourists, while maintaining a "strict health protocol" to prevent the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, Bali provincial secretary Dewa Made Indra told reporters.

Affect of tourism restrictions on the Bali's economy 

The local government expects to reopen Bali to foreign arrivals in September; tourism is Bali's main source of income.

Travel restrictions due to the pandemic have hammered the local economy. The occupancy rate at Bali's starred hotels plunged to 2.07 per cent in May, according to Bali statistics bureau data, from 62.55 per cent in December before the pandemic hit and down from 51.56 per cent in May 2019.

"What I hope is the best for Bali and ... all the tourists will come to Bali and everybody will be happy and healthy again," Robin Tesselar, a Dutch citizen staying in Bali, told Reuters after attending the Besakih prayers.

Tourism-related businesses are preparing to for the reopening by implementing the health protocols, aiming to improve them until Bali reopens for international tourists, said hospitality executive Yoga Iswara.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO

Age: 33

Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

India squad

Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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