Author: Middle East Correspondent

India has announced plans to further ease a strict national lockdown even as the country reported a record daily rise in new Coronavirus cases. From 8 June, restaurants, hotels, shopping centres and places of worship will be allowed to re-open in many areas in the first stage of a three-phase plan. Weeks later, probably in July, schools and colleges will resume teaching. But areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases will remain under tight lockdown. The plan comes after India registered a new record single-day rise in confirmed infections. They reported nearly 8,000 cases on Saturday. In total, India has…

Many in Lebanon have suddenly been plunged into poverty in a country that has hit its breaking point due to Coronavirus. Almost half the country’s six million people are now living below the poverty line.  Lebanon’s catastrophe, economy crisis Some are warning that the scale of the catastrophe may be more devastating than the 15-year civil war, which raged from 1975 to 1990. Even before coronavirus hit, Lebanon was experiencing the worst economic crisis in the country’s history. This triggered large anti-government protests late last year. Lebanon’s currency has lost nearly 60% of its value against the dollar. In a…

At least three jailed senior members of the toppled regime of former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir have the Coronavirus. The Arab African country has reported 4,146 coronavirus cases and 184 deaths. It released more than 4,000 prisoners in March as a precaution against the spread of the disease in jails. Bashir regime senior members, Wanted infected criminals But political sensitivities mean all those jailed for an offence committed as part of the administration run by the veteran Islamist, who was ousted in an uprising a year ago, remain in custody. They include Ahmed Haroun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein. They…

The US has passed 100,000 deaths in the Coronavirus outbreak in less than four months. The 1.69 million confirmed infections in the US account for about 30% of the worldwide total. The first US infection was reported in Washington state on 21 January. Globally there have been 5.6 million people recorded as infected and 354,983 deaths since the virus emerged. The US death toll stands at 100,276, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, which has been tracking the pandemic. It is almost the same as the number of American servicemen and women killed in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan…

Egypt’s top medical union on Monday warned of a “complete collapse” of the country’s health system. it accused the health ministry of negligence in failing to protect healthcare workers from Coronavirus. COVID-19 has killed 19 doctors and infected more than 350, according to the EMS, a body representing thousands of Egyptian doctors. “The EMS holds the health ministry entirely responsible for the mounting deaths and infections among doctors due to its negligence… that is tantamount to death through dereliction of duty,” it added. Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, has so far reported 17,967 confirmed cases of…

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was unable to visit his dying mother in her final weeks because he obeyed Coronavirus restrictions against visiting care homes, his office said on Monday. They added:  “The prime minister has complied with all directives.” PM Mark Rutte mother’s death Mark Rutte’s mother Mieke Rutte-Dilling died aged 96 at her care home in The Hague on 13 May, the PM said in a statement. Mrs Rutte-Dilling did not die of coronavirus, despite an outbreak of the disease at her residential home, Dutch media reported. Paying tribute to her, Mr Rutte said: “In addition to the…

Ireland has recorded no COVID-19 deaths for the first time since March. The country’s leader, Leo Varadkar, said it was a “day of hope” as only 59 new Coronavirus cases were detected. He hailed it as a “significant milestone.” “First day with no reported COVID 19 deaths since March 21st. This is a day of hope. We will prevail.” The Republic has had 1,606 COVID-19 linked deaths and 24,698 confirmed cases. Dr Tony Holohan, Ireland’s chief medical officer, said figures over the past week indicated “we have suppressed COVID-19 as a country”. He added: “It has taken strict measures to…

Spain is opening its borders to tourists without the need to quarantine. A major boost for the economy. Tourists and people wishing to travel to Spain will be able to visit Spain from 1 July without having to quarantine for two weeks. “The worst is behind us,” Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya tweeted with emojis of a bikini, sunglasses and a suitcase. “In July we will gradually open Spain to international tourists, lift the quarantine, [and] ensure the highest standards of health safety. We look forward to welcoming you!” The government said cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the mandatory…

The World Health Organisation is removing hydroxychloroquine from its global study of potential  COVID-19 treatments while it carries out a review of its safety. Trials in several countries are being “temporarily” suspended as a precaution, the agency said on Monday. It comes after a recent medical study suggested the drug could increase the risk of patients dying from Covid-19. https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1265089015822217217 President Donald Trump has said he is taking the drug to ward off the virus. The US president has repeatedly promoted the anti-malarial drug, against medical advice and despite warnings from public health officials that it could cause heart problems. Hydroxychloroquine…

The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) announced on Wednesday that 348 new international companies were granted investor licenses during the first quarter of 2020. Figures showed a 19 percent annual increase compared to the same period in 2019, and a 20 percent quarter-on-quarter increase from the final three months of 2019, the ministry said in a press release. However, month-to-month growth began to slow in March as global markets reacted to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry charted Saudi Arabia’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and its global response as the holder of the G20 presidency,…

For a second time within five days, Prime Minister Imran Khan has cautioned that India was planning an armed attack on Pakistan. The Pakistani leader’s fresh warning came as India violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC), leaving several civilians injured. “I am reiterating again that a false flag operation is imminent from India in order to divert world attention away from its ongoing genocide in IOJK [Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir],” Mr Khan said in a tweet late on Wednesday evening. Khan further claimed that 15 homes were torched by “Indian Occupation forces” in Srinagar on Wednesday as…

UAE health authorities have confirmed 941 new Coronavirus cases, the highest overnight figures so far, as the Emirates continued its expanded testing among residents and citizens. The country’s caseload is now at 26,004 after the new cases were detected from the additional 43,732 tests that have been undertaken. The coronavirus-related death toll also rose by six overnight, taking the total number of deaths to 233, Dr Amna Al-Dahak Al-Shamsi, the government spokesperson, said. https://twitter.com/pendown/status/1263293921913761796 UAE authorities modified the timings of the National Disinfection Program to become from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., which starts 2 hours earlier than the previous…

Jordan is imposing a three-day lockdown which started on Friday morning, after a resurgence in Coronavirus infections. The government aims to address and to control the spread of the second wave with the Eid Al-Fitr holiday just around the corner. “The crisis cell in the National Center for Security and Crisis Management decided to amend the measures taken during the period of Eid Al-Fitr, based on the developments of the epidemiological situation of the Kingdom during the past days,” state news agency Petra reported. Jordan reported 23 new more coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing its caseload to 672. https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/1263352671861223434 “In…

The eastern Indian city of Kolkata has been devastated by a powerful cyclone which has killed at least 22 people across India and Bangladesh. Rescue teams searched for survivors a day after the most powerful cyclone in over a decade devastated coastal villages, destroying mud houses, ripping out electricity poles and washing away bridges. The cyclone weakened as it moved along the Bangladesh coast but still unleashed heavy rains and fierce winds in Cox’s Bazar, the district which houses about one million Rohingya refugees from violence in Myanmar. Authorities began surveying the damage on Thursday after millions spent a sleepless…

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Wednesday that the Coronavirus pandemic is a long way from being over amid the largest daily rise in global cases. The WHO said 106,000 new cases had been reported to them in the last 24 hours. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed particular concern about rising infections in low and middle-income nations. The warning comes as the total number of cases approach five million. The grim milestone looks set to be reached less than two weeks after the world hit the four million mark. Experts warn the true number of infections…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared on Tuesday an end to all agreements signed with Israel and the United States. The president made the announcement during an emergency meeting in Ramallah to discuss Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. He said the decision included security agreements with Israel, including those set out in the Oslo Accords signed in 1993. https://twitter.com/RandaHabib/status/1262987402475458560 The dramatic announcement comes as Israel prepares to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in a stance adopted by a new coalition government sworn on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised in his election campaign…

Egypt on Tuesday registered 720 new Coronavirus cases, the health ministry said in a statement, its the highest daily toll since detecting the first confirmed case in February. The new cases brought the total infections to 13,484 cases, the ministry added in a statement. The ministry also reported 14 deaths due to the novel virus, bringing the total number to 659. Nearly 3,740 people have recovered and been discharged from isolation hospitals. The test results of 4275 people turned from positive to negative, the ministry said, including 3742 people who totally recovered. It added that 302 patients left hospitals. The…

President Donald Trump has argued it is “a badge of honour” that the US has the world’s highest number of confirmed  COVID-19 infections. “I look at that as, in a certain respect, as being a good thing because it means our testing is much better,” he said at the White House. The US has 1.5 million Coronavirus cases and nearly 92,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. He says the total is simply a reflection of a successful testing regime. In second place is Russia, with nearly 300,000 confirmed cases. Trump’s words about Covid_19 cases, 12.6 m coronavirus tests On Monday, Mr…

Up to 60m people will be pushed into extreme poverty by the economic consequences of the Coronavirus crisis, and current recovery efforts are not enough, David Malpass, president of the World Bank, has warned. David Malpass said the bank expects global economic growth to shrink by 5% this year as nations deal with the pandemic. The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” This has already led to millions losing their jobs and businesses failing, with poorer countries feeling the brunt. “Millions of livelihoods have been destroyed and healthcare systems are under strain worldwide,” he said. “Our estimate is that up to 60 million…

Countries in the Gulf region will emerge “weaker, poorer and damaged” from the Coronavirus pandemic, according to the UAE’s Minister of State, Dr Anwar Gargash. He said the answer was for the whole region to try to de-escalate tensions and work towards economic prosperity. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the wealthiest countries in the world, made early preparations for the coronavirus attack, buying in testing kits and setting up production lines for face masks. Out of a total population of nine million, it has so far registered 23,358 cases and 220 deaths. Iran, just across the waters of…

US President Donald Trump has sent a letter to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) threatening to pull US funding permanently over COVID19. The letter outlines a 30-day deadline for the body to commit to “substantive improvements” or risk losing millions and US membership altogether. Addressed to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, it criticises stages of the body’s response since December. Earlier in the day, Mr Trump called the UN’s health body a “puppet of China”. The president, who faces re-election this year and has himself been criticised for his handling of the pandemic, has blamed China for…

A Chinese laboratory has developed a drug that it believes has the power to end the Coronavirus pandemic. It will not only shorten the recovery period of coronavirus patients but will provide short-term immunity against the infection. Sunney Xie, director of the Beijing Center for Advanced Innovation in Genomics, told AFP that the drug had passed animal testing. “When we injected neutralizing antibodies into infected mice after five days, the viral load was reduced by a factor of 2,500,” said Xie. “This means that this potential drug has a therapeutic effect. “ Antibodies are needed for the new coronavirus pandemic…

Many European countries will be further easing their Coronavirus lockdown restrictions from Monday including Italy and Spain who were among the hardest hit. Most businesses in Italy, including bars and hairdressers, will be free to reopen after more than two months of nationwide lockdown measures. Spain is set to relax its restrictions in most of the country, with groups of up to 10 people free to meet. The measures follow consistent drops in the number of daily recorded deaths. Death tolls in Italy and Spain fallOn Sunday, Italy recorded the fewest daily deaths since it enforced a nationwide lockdown in…

The health system in Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo could collapse as demand grows for emergency beds to deal with Coronavirus cases, city mayor warned. Bruno Covas said the city’s public hospitals had reached 90% capacity and could run out of space in two weeks. He accused those who flouted lockdown rules of playing “Russian roulette” with people’s lives. Record Coronavirus Deaths in São PauloSão Paulo is one of the country’s worst-hit regions, with almost 3,000 deaths so far. This week Brazil overtook Spain and Italy to become the nation with the fourth-largest number of infections. The health ministry reported…

According to two separate reports, Covid-19 can infect other organs. The reports suggest the virus goes far beyond the lungs and can attack various organs. The findings can help explain the wide range of symptoms caused by  COVID19 infection. The coronavirus can infect organs throughout the body, including lungs, throat, heart, liver, brain, kidneys and the intestines, as researchers have reported on Wednesday. The findings might help explain some of the puzzling symptoms seen in coronavirus patients. They include blood clots that cause strokes in younger people and that clog dialysis machines, headaches and kidney failure. Covid-19 is classified as a respiratory virus and…