• A member of customer service staff walks past the Rain Vortex waterfall inside the Jewel Changi Airport mall in Singapore. The airport reported a 36 per cent downturn in profits due to travel restrictions. EPA
    A member of customer service staff walks past the Rain Vortex waterfall inside the Jewel Changi Airport mall in Singapore. The airport reported a 36 per cent downturn in profits due to travel restrictions. EPA
  • A policeman on a Segway patrols on the departure floor at Tokyo International Airport after Japan started easing entry restrictions to visitors from around the world. EPA
    A policeman on a Segway patrols on the departure floor at Tokyo International Airport after Japan started easing entry restrictions to visitors from around the world. EPA
  • A traveler arriving on the first international commercial flight to land in South Africa since lockdown is welcomed at Cape Town International Airport, South Africa. EPA
    A traveler arriving on the first international commercial flight to land in South Africa since lockdown is welcomed at Cape Town International Airport, South Africa. EPA
  • A health worker sprays sanitizer on a passenger at Damascus International Airport on its re-opening day for regular international commercial traffic. Reuters
    A health worker sprays sanitizer on a passenger at Damascus International Airport on its re-opening day for regular international commercial traffic. Reuters
  • Thai health officials check the body temperature of an arriving foreigner prior to heading to a 14-day quarantine period, at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. EPA
    Thai health officials check the body temperature of an arriving foreigner prior to heading to a 14-day quarantine period, at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. EPA
  • A passenger wearing a protective suit and face mask enters the Jorge Chavez International Airport, Peru, as international flights resume after a break of more than six months. AFP
    A passenger wearing a protective suit and face mask enters the Jorge Chavez International Airport, Peru, as international flights resume after a break of more than six months. AFP
  • A firefighter sprays disinfectant on luggage at the entrance of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Reuters
    A firefighter sprays disinfectant on luggage at the entrance of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Reuters
  • A worker wears a sign that says "Distance friend" outside of the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. Reuters
    A worker wears a sign that says "Distance friend" outside of the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. Reuters
  • A health worker administers a Covid-19 swab test on a French soldier at Charles de Gaulle airport, France. Bloomberg
    A health worker administers a Covid-19 swab test on a French soldier at Charles de Gaulle airport, France. Bloomberg
  • Passengers at 'Leonardo da Vinci' airport, near Rome, Italy. The health authorities of the Lazio Region have decided to build in an additional rapid Covid-19 test center. EPA
    Passengers at 'Leonardo da Vinci' airport, near Rome, Italy. The health authorities of the Lazio Region have decided to build in an additional rapid Covid-19 test center. EPA

UAE reports 1,129 new cases after record 136,000 tests


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE recorded 1,129 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday following the biggest day of testing to date.

The authorities confirmed one further death and 1,070 recoveries. In the past day, 136,430 people were screened for the virus.

The latest numbers took the total to 105,133, while the death toll was 443.

Officials said 95,973 patients in the Emirates have recovered to date.

Weekend testing figures have been consistently high in recent weeks. People working in hospitality, schools, hospitals and transport are often screened every week or fortnight, while residents must be tested to enter Abu Dhabi.

The authorities continued to crack down on businesses violating strict precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, Dubai Economy inspectors fined 25 businesses for failing to enforce safety and social distancing rules.

During the inspections, 317 businesses were found to comply with regulations.

On Friday, the authority closed down an unnamed retailer on its opening day due to overcrowding.

Staff were unable to adhere to social distancing measures which led to a surge of shoppers filling the premises to take advantage of the opening day offers.

Another business was fined for similar violations and 10 more shops received warnings.

Globally, European countries are facing the prospect of new restrictions, including lockdowns, after coronavirus cases in the region rose by 28 per cent in a week.

On Friday, Madrid in Spain was forced into a partial lockdown as cases spiked in the city. And in Germany, chancellor Angela Merkel warned of tougher action in hotspots across the country if numbers did not begin to decrease or plateau.

Global cases of Covid-19 stand at 36.9 million according to Johns Hopkins University, with 1.07m deaths and 25.7 million recoveries.

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Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs

UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv

Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium

Islamophobia definition

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”.

The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

Fixtures

Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs

Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms

Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles

Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon

Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')

Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

Ain Issa camp:
  • Established in 2016
  • Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
  • Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
  • 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
  • NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
  • One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

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Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor

 

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UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind