Coronavirus: Four die as UAE reports 1,209 new Covid-19 cases


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The UAE reported 1,209 cases of Covid-19 on Monday, after a further 84,154 tests were conducted.

At least 680 people were cleared of the virus, having tested negative twice consecutively, and four patients died of related complications in the past 24 hours.

Total infections now stand at 151,554, while recoveries reached 143,932. The death toll since the outbreak is 534 and the number of active cases has increased to 7,088.

The tally increased by more than 5,000 in the past two weeks after dropping to a seven-month low of 1,822 on November 4.

Widespread screening has been key to the UAE's strategy of early detection, with more than 15 million tests carried out since January.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said it would continue to expand its scope of nationwide testing to ensure early detection, isolation and treatment of any cases.

Strict safety measures regulating any public activities aim to prevent further infections while also allowing a semblance of normal life to resume.

The UAE is also heavily involved in trials for a vaccine against Covid-19 being developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

More than 33,000 people were vaccinated as part of Phase 3 trials conducted across the country, but primarily in Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, Emirates airline announced it would partner with global pharmaceutical producer Pfizer to help navigate the challenges of distributing its Covid-19 vaccine.

Emirates president Tim Clark told CNBC that the aviation industry was working on establishing the most efficient way to deliver crucial vaccines to the market, once they were approved.

He said the airline was working closely with Pfizer to develop methods to transport the vaccine.

Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech announced their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective.

The findings, that have not yet been peer reviewed, appear to exceed expectations, with reports suggesting that experts thought vaccines would be nearer to 60 per cent or 70 per cent effective.

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

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The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

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.

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds