Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi on Monday ordered a countrywide curfew starting from Tuesday to curb a surge in coronavirus cases.
The country, which was the first North African national to reopen its borders on June 27 after managing to contain the virus earlier this year, has seen a sharp uptick in confirmed cases.
In recent weeks, authorities have been ramping up containment measures in the worst-affected areas, with curfews imposed on several governorates, including Monastir, Sousse, Sidi Bouzid, and Sabalat Ouled Asker.
The health ministry reported 5,752 new cases on Saturday, raising the total caseload to 40,542, while 114 deaths were registered, taking toll to 626.
Iran has also seen a rapid rise in cases and recorded its worst day of new deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with 337 confirmed dead on Monday.
Fatalities have soared in recent weeks, as authorities struggle to contain the virus’s spread months into the pandemic.
The Islamic Republic has seen the worst outbreak in the Middle East with a death toll that topped 30,000 last week.
Saudi Arabia reported 381 new cases on Tuesday and 16 deaths as well as 357 recoveries. The Kingdom, which reopened the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday, has recorded 342,000 cases and 328,000 recoveries in total.
Oman's Ministry of Health announced 641 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing the country's total caseload to 110,594.
A further 776 recoveries and 13 deaths bring the country's tally to 96,400 recoveries with 1,114 deaths.
Outside the Middle East, Russia's daily tally of coronavirus cases surged to a new record high of 15,982 on Monday, including 5,376 in the capital Moscow, pushing the national case total to 1,415,316 since the pandemic began.
And in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ready to offer Greater Manchester as much as £100 million ($129.4m) to offset the economic effects of a stricter lockdown amid concerns that hospitals will run out of beds as the caseload climbs rapidly.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
