Worshippers wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus outside a shrine in Tehran, Iran. AP
Worshippers wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus outside a shrine in Tehran, Iran. AP
Worshippers wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus outside a shrine in Tehran, Iran. AP
Worshippers wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus outside a shrine in Tehran, Iran. AP

Iran reports surge in cases as more than 3,000 test positive for Covid-19


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Iran has seen its second-highest surge in coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak after 3,117 people tested positive for the virus in 24 hours, according to the country’s health ministry.

The increase comes as the number of new infections nears the daily toll seen during the peak of the outbreak in March, when a high of 3,186 infections was reported in a single day on March 31.

Authorities in the Islamic Republic have been easing lockdown restrictions since April but health minister Saeed Namaki said on Monday the country should brace for a second wave of infections if people ignore distancing guidelines.

“That people have become completely careless regarding this disease” was of great concern, Mr Namaki said.

“They either have total confidence in us or think the coronavirus has gone. The latter is not true at all,” the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying.

Iran has recorded 157,562 cases of the virus to date, of whom 7,942 have died. Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 64 Iranians had died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.

Restrictions have eased since the Eid holiday across the region, with Dubai announcing on Tuesday that shopping malls and private businesses will re-open at full capacity for the first time in two months.

The decision falls a steady decline in new infections in the UAE, with 596 new cases reported on Tuesday. Three more people died from the virus, while a further 388 recovered.

But social distancing measures remain in place and regulations are being enforced to ensure people take steps to limit the spread of the disease.

Officials in Dubai fined more than 100 beachgoers for failing to follow regulations after beaches re-opened on May 30. Groups are limited to no more than five people and masks are mandatory, except when in the water authorities said.

In Abu Dhabi, police introduced a week-long permit system for people entering and leaving the emirate from Tuesday. Residents of Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra can travel within their cities but not leave them until next week.

Elsewhere in the UAE, Ajman police have warned motorists they will be fined Dh1,000 for throwing masks and gloves from car windows and Sharjah has instructed all restaurants, bakeries and cafes to install surveillance cameras so that food safety can be monitored.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Health confirmed 1,826 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the number of infections in the country to 60,259.

Kuwait recorded 887 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 28,649. Kuwait’s largest private airline, Jazeera Airways has announced 50,000 free round-trip flights for front-line workers who have been battling the country’s Covid-19 pandemic.

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETamer%20Ruggli%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadine%20Labaki%2C%20Fanny%20Ardant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT%20ARE%20THE%20PRODUCTS%20WITHIN%20THE%20THREE%20MAJOR%20CATEGORIES%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20materials%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20specifically%20engineered%20to%20exhibit%20novel%20or%20enhanced%20properties%2C%20that%20confer%20superior%20performance%20relative%20to%20conventional%20materials%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20components%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20semiconductor%20components%2C%20such%20as%20microprocessors%20and%20other%20computer%20chips%2C%20and%20computer%20vision%20components%20such%20as%20lenses%20and%20image%20sensors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20products%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20personal%20electronics%2C%20smart%20home%20devices%20and%20space%20technologies%2C%20along%20with%20industry-enabling%20products%20such%20as%20robots%2C%203D%20printing%20equipment%20and%20exoskeletons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Strategy%26amp%3B%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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Company profile

Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital

It

Director: Andres Muschietti

Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor

Three stars

Her most famous song

Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?

Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.

Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab