All 7 Emirates of UAE announce new, stricter covid safety rules

Khaleej Times
February 20, 2021

Image result for dubai covid 19

Dubai, Feb 20: Authorities in the UAE are leaving nothing to chance when it comes to Covid-19 safety.

Despite opening up almost all sectors gradually over the past year, authorities continued their safety inspection checks to ensure that all precautionary measures are followed.

However, daily inspection reports have shown an increase in the number of establishments breaking Covid safety rules. This has prompted authorities across the country to tighten rules and introduce new measures.

Six emirates have tightened Covid safety rules to curb the spread of the virus.

Here is a full list of all the Covid safety measures, including closures; reduced capacity at malls and offices; and compulsory PCR testing for unvaccinated employees. (List ordered according to dates of announcements)

>> Fujairah

- All concerts, music events and social gatherings.

- Reduced capacities:

Public beaches and parks to 70%

Shopping malls to 60%

Cinemas to 50%

Stricter Covid rules across UAE as 7th Emirate tightens measures https://t.co/WAb8lMGgzb

- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 18, 2021
Gyms to 50%

Swimming pools at hotels to 50%

Public transport services to 50%

>> Umm Al Quwain

- Malls to operate at 60% capacity.

- All music concerts have been cancelled.

- Maximum of four people per table at eateries.

- Gatherings, including weddings, must not have more than 10 guests.

#BREAKING: UAE Covid: All concerts cancelled, capacity reduced in UAQ@uaqpoliceghq https://t.co/N01MwKUY22

- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 16, 2021
- Capacity at beaches and parks reduced to 70%.

- Cinema halls capacity reduced to 50%.

>> Ras Al Khaimah

- Cinemas, events venues and gyms can take a maximum of 50% customers capacity.

- Capacity at malls and shopping centres reduced to 60%.

- Gatherings, including marriages, can have a maximum of 10 guests.
- Funerals to have a maximum of 20 mourners.

- Capacity at beaches and public parks reduced to 70%.

- Public transportation, pools and private beaches at hotels to limit their capacity to 50%.

>> Sharjah

- All government employees and some private sector staff to undergo PCR testing for Covid regularly.

- Shopping centres, malls to operate at 60% of capacity.

- Cinemas, entertainment centres to take in only 50% of visitors' capacity.

- Gyms and fitness centres to operate at 50% capacity.

- Parks and beaches to take in only 70% of capacity.

- All concerts postponed for an extendable four weeks.

- Maximum number of people allowed at wedding ceremonies and funeral services to be 10 and 20 people, respectively.

- At eateries, a maximum of 4 people allowed on the same table, if not from same family.

>> Ajman

- All eateries to close by 12 midnight.

- Eateries can take in only 50% capacity.

UAE: @Ajmanded closes cafe, fines Dh60,000 for repeat Covid violations @ajmanpoliceghq @NCEMAUAE https://t.co/yuSwDMXTjn

- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 9, 2021
- Capacity at both wedding and event halls capped at 50 people.

- Unvaccinated government employees take a PCR test for Covid-19 every 7 days.

>> Abu Dhabi

- Abu Dhabi has reduced attendance at government and semi-government offices to 30 per cent.

- Effective February 7, the number of guests has been capped to 10 for marriage ceremonies and family gatherings; and 20 for funerals and mourning services.

- Parties and gatherings have been banned.

Covid-19: New safety rules in Abu Dhabi rolled out https://t.co/C6YvfJVe6N

New remote working rule effective from today.@NCEMAUAE @admediaoffice @AbuDhabiDED @AbuDhabi_ADM pic.twitter.com/vKF0QiGuAl

- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 7, 2021
- Weekly PCR tests for all unvaccinated employees.

- Cinemas shut until further notice.

- Malls operate at 40 per cent capacity.

- Restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, public beaches and parks to operate at 60 per cent capacity.

- Sports halls can take in only 50 per cent of capacity at a time.

- Gyms, private beaches and swimming pools to operate at 50 per cent capacity

- Taxis and buses to operate at 45 per cent and 75 per cent capacity, respectively.

>> Dubai

- Pubs, bars closed.

- Shopping malls operate at a reduced capacity of 70 per cent.

- Audience capacity of seated indoor venues, including cinemas as well as entertainment and sports venues, reduced to 50 per cent.

Photos: #Dubai's new #Covid safety rules rolled outhttps://t.co/0LkBrkrWqx

- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) January 27, 2021
- Hotels operate at 70 per cent of total capacity.

- Guests allowed inside swimming pools and private beaches in hotels limited to 70 per cent of total capacity.

- Restaurants and cafes are required to close by 1am. They will also not be allowed to organise any entertainment activities in their premises.

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News Network
April 12,2024

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Bengaluru, Apr 12: The two men who allegedly plotted and executed the blast that rocked Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru last month have been arrested from Kanthi in Bengal's East Midnapore district, the National Investigation Agency said Friday morning. 

Mussavir Hussain Shazeb and Abdul Matheen Taha were caught after a joint operation by central intelligence agencies and police from Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala, and are en route to Kolkata, the anti-terror agency said in a statement.

The available evidence indicates Shazeb planted the explosive device, placed inside a backpack, at the popular eatery. Taha was responsible for planning the attack and for their disappearance.

These are the second and third arrests in this case; last month Muzammil Shareef, who extended logistical support to the Shazeb and Taha, was taken into custody.

Residents of Karnataka's Shivamogga district, Shazeb and Taha were traced to Kanthi after officials conducted searches at 18 locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and even Uttar Pradesh.

The blast at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1 injured 10 people, customers and staff.

Fortunately there were no deaths; the bag containing the explosives was placed in a relatively less crowded area and against a large pillar that absorbed the brunt of the explosion.

After the blast, the NIA released photos and videos of the accused, as seen on CCTV cameras across Bengaluru. In one such clip, the accused - wearing a face mask - was seen boarding a bus.

The agency had declared a reward of ₹ 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of each accused. The agency had also questioned their acquaintances, including college and school friends.

The Rameshwaram Cafe, which suffered extensive damage after the blast, reopened eight days later, with enhanced security measures including metal detectors.

BJP’s reaction

The Karnataka BJP on Friday attacked the Siddaramaiah government after the arrest of two men by the NIA in the Bengaluru cafe blast case, saying that the terrorists were 'brothers' of the Congress.

Taking to social media, Karnataka BJP stated, “National Investigation Agency (NIA) detains ‘Brothers’ of Congress in Rameshwaram Blast case. Ever since Jihadi Tipu Sultan’s admirers came to power in Karnataka, terrorists have got a free ride.”

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s ‘Ease of Doing Terror’ Policies have prompted ISIS to now set up its shop in Karnataka. The only guarantee that CM Siddaramaiah has fulfilled is converting prosperous Karnataka into a terror hub,” the BJP stated.

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News Network
April 17,2024

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Dubai: Dubai was slapped by heavy floods as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was hit by extremely heavy rains on Tuesday. The desert city received over a year and a half's worth of rain in just a day even as heavy thunderstorms lashed other parts of the UAE.

Roads turned into rivers as they were filled up with water. Shopping centres like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates were also seen flooding.

Schools across the UAE have been shut and are expected to remain closed on today as well.

According to a report by India Today, Dubai airport received about 100 mm of rain in just 12 hours on Tuesday and a total of 160 mm in the last 24 hours.

On average, Dubai receives about 88.9 mm of rain in a year, which concludes that the city received more than a year's rain in a day.

Dubai International Airport said on Wednesday it was experiencing significant disruption due to bad weather and was working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Flights have been delayed or diverted and impacted by displaced crew, the airport said in a statement, adding that recovery would take some time.

Dubai's Emirates airline said that it was suspending check-in for passengers departing the airport from 8 am (0400 GMT) on Wednesday until midnight due to operational challenges caused by the bad weather and road conditions.

Dubai International was temporarily diverting arriving flights on Tuesday evening because of a storm, and operations were suspended for 25 minutes earlier in the day.

According to India Today, the airport stopped flight operations and issued a warning earlier today on X.

The Dubai International Airport requested the passengers to check their flight status.

Employees in Dubai have been told to work from home.

The UAE Government took to X and said, "Based on the directives of the Council of Ministers, it was decided to extend remote work until tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17, for all federal government employees, with the exception of jobs that require presence at the workplace, taking into account the weather condition that the country is going through."

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News Network
April 5,2024

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New Delhi: The Congress has released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, with jobs creation, development of infrastructure, and a national caste census among the major highlights.

The manifesto was released in Delhi by party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, who was flanked by senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram - who led the committee that drafted the document - was also present.

"This manifesto will be 'nyay ka dastavez' (a document for justice) in the political history of the country. From the five pillars of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra' - yuva (youth), kisan (farmers), naari (women), shramik (workers), and hissedari (equity), 25 guarantees will emerge... ," Mr Kharge said.

The overall theme of the manifesto is based on 'work', 'wealth', and 'welfare', the party said.

"'Work' means you must provide jobs. 'Wealth' must be created before it is distributed. 'Welfare' means taking care of the poorer sections," the Congress said.

Silent on CAA

While the manifesto is silent on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and restoration of Article 370, the party promises immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Caste Census

One of the biggest talking points is the caste census - a political hot topic that has been in the headlines since the Bihar government's statewide survey was released in November.

The 48-page document promises to amend the Constitution to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, with Caste Census providing the latest data to go ahead with the affirmative action. Addressing land issues, the party also pledges to establish an authority to monitor the distribution of government land and surplus land under the land ceiling Acts to the poor.

MSP for Farmers

The party has also promised to implement MSP, or minimum support price, for farmer growing cash crops. The MSP issue has been at the heart of protests by farmers since 2020, when lakhs from across the country went on a months-long agitation against the centre's (now-scrapped) three farm laws.

The Congress has said it will give a permanent legal guarantee for MSP - a core demand for protesting farmers - based on the formula recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.

"Congress has been the only party that has lent its ear to the distress of the farmers and farm labourers, and we are determined to do everything possible to alleviate their pain and make agriculture a desirable livelihood," the party said, attacking the BJP's response to the farmers protest as "callous and brutal".

Poverty

The party also vowed to eliminate poverty by improving the fortunes of 23 crore people over the next decade. Mr Chidambaram attacked the BJP as a "government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich", and said it is "driven by the interests of the top 1 per cent".

"... but we will look at the bottom 50 per cent. The bottom 50 per cent is as important. It has been estimated 23 crore people are still poor in this country. The UPA lifted 24 crore people out of poverty and we promise, if the Congress-led government comes to power in 2024, we will lift 23 crore in 10 years."

As part of this promise - and to empower women - the Congress said it would launch a 'Mahalakshmi' scheme to provide an unconditional cash transfer of Rs 1 lakh per year to the oldest female member of every poor family.  Beneficiaries will be identified as those from the bottom level of the income pyramid.

Inequality of income and opportunity remain India's ugliest truth. It is the moral and political responsibility of any government to ensure that every family is assured of a basic income every month, the party said.

National Security, China

The Congress said it "recognises that national security is not enhanced by chest-thumping or exaggerated claims, but by quiet attention to borders and resolute defence preparedness".

The party said it would work to restore status quo on the country's borders with China and "ensure areas where both armies patrolled in the past are again accessible to our soldiers".

This has been seen as a direct jab at the BJP over the military stand-off with China in parts of eastern Ladakh following violence in June 2020 that, the opposition has repeatedly claimed, led to New Delhi surrendering territory to Beijing.

On diplomatic tension with Maldives, the Congress said it work to "repair relations".

Healthcare

Universal free healthcare, including cost of diagnosis, surgery, and medication, will be made available, the party said. This will come with cashless insurance up to ₹ 25 lakh, like the model implemented in Rajasthan, when the Congress was in power.

"We promise that healthcare will be universal and free in public health centres, such as hospitals, clinics, PHCs, MHCs, and dispensaries, as well as health camps. Free healthcare will include examination, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, medicines, rehabilitation, and palliative care."

The Congress said it would also establish Assisted Living and Care Centres for disabled people and provide representation for them in local bodies.

Other Major Points

In a move likely to resonate strongly among unemployed youth struggling with massive loan debts, the party said it would "as a one-time measure of relief" write off all student educational loans, including unpaid interest. This amount will be calculated as on March 15.

Banks will be compensated by the government, the Congress said.

The party said it would also introduce a law to "recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community".

The Congress said it would amend laws to "combine the efficiency of EVM and transparency of ballot papers". "Voting will be through the EVM but the voter will be able to hold and deposit the machine-generated voting slip into the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) unit," the party said.

2024 Lok Sabha Election

The election will be spread over seven phases beginning April 19. Votes will be declared June 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP - which is yet to release its manifesto - are bidding for a third consecutive term.  They face a combined challenge from the opposition, which has united (for the most part) under the INDIA banner led by the Congress. 

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