Top headlines: Sheikh Mohamed lauds UAE's aerospace ambition; Emirates adds more flights; India sees highest single-day spike

Top Stories

Dubai - Here's a summary of stories that made the headlines over the past 24 hours.

By Web Report

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Published: Fri 26 Jun 2020, 4:46 PM

Last updated: Fri 26 Jun 2020, 6:54 PM

Video: Sheikh Mohamed visits Mubadala's Strata, lauds UAE's aerospace ambition

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has visited Strata Manufacturing, the advanced composite aero structures manufacturing facility wholly-owned by Mubadala Investment Company.

The Crown Prince praised the commitment of the talented team at the Al Ain-based global pioneer in aerospace manufacturing who are contributing to global excellence in the aerospace sector.

"During a visit to Strata, I met young & talented individuals who are contributing to global excellence in the aerospace sector. This pioneering UAE initiative is at the heart of our ambition to invest in a diversified, knowledge-based economy led by a highly qualified workforce," said Sheikh Mohamed on Twitter.

UAE stem cell therapy treats over 2,000 coronavirus patients, 1,200 fully recover

The Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre (ADSCC) has now treated more than 2,000 patients suffering from Covid-19, with 1,200 already fully recovered from the effects of the virus.

ADSCC announced today that it had succeeded in ramping up the number of treatments from 73 in the initial clinical trial.

The large increase was as a result of a major effort by staff at the centre to treat as many people as possible following the UAE Government's decision to make it available free of charge to all moderate-to-high risk Covid-19 patients in the country.

Coronavirus vaccine could come within 1 year: WHO chief

Scientists predict the world may have a Covid-19 vaccine within one year or even a few months earlier, said the Director-General of the World Health Organisation even as he underlined the importance of global cooperation to develop, manufacture and distribute vaccines.

However, making the vaccine available and distributing it to all will be a challenge and requires political will, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday during a meeting with the European Parliament's Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

Exhausted trekker rescued from UAE mountain after falling sick

An Emirati trekker, in his 30s, reeling under exhaustion after scaling a rough mountain at the Wadi Ghalila was rescued in time by the search and rescue team of the air wing section of Ras Al Khaimah Police.

Group Captain Saeed Rashid Al Yamahi, head of the air wing section, RAK Police, said they were alerted about the trekker who was suffering from serious exhaustion due to heat at a height of 3,300 feet on Thursday around 11am. The man was given first aid and airlifted to the nearest hospital.

Emirates adds flights to seven more destinations from Dubai

Seven additional cities have been added to Emirates' flight routes in July -  Khartoum (from July 3), Amman (from July 5), Osaka (from July 5), Narita (from July 8), Athens (from July 15), Larnaca (from July 15) and Rome (July 15).

This takes the total number of destinations offered by Emirates to 48.

Customers will also be able to travel to Dubai now that the city will be open for business and leisure visitors from July 7. New air travel protocols have to be followed for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while safeguarding the health and safety of visitors and communities.

Avail 50% discount on traffic fine until June 30 in Sharjah

Motorists have been urged to avail of the traffic fine discounts in Sharjah before the offer deadline next week.

A 50 per cent discount on traffic fines was announced by the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) from April 1 to June 30, approved by the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC).

The fine discount can be benefited for traffic violations committed before March 31, 2020.

People who want to avail of the fine reductions must visit the authority's website, www.srta.gov.ae, before the deadline.

Dubai Metro reverts to normal timings with immediate effect; check the schedule here

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority on Thursday announced Metro timings will be restored to normal following the completion of the National Sterilisation Programme to counter the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per the revised schedule, trains on the Green Line will now run from 5.30am until 12 midnight from Saturday to Wednesday, 5.30am to 1am (the next morning) on Thursdays, and 10am to 1am (the following morning) on Fridays.

Trains on the Red Line will run from 5am to 12 midnight from Saturday to Wednesday, and 5am to 1am (the next morning) on Thursdays, and 10am to 1am (the next day) on Fridays.

Combating coronavirus: Dubai reverts to normal working hours for all sectors

Following the successful completion of the National Sterilisation Programme in the UAE, Dubai Economy has announced that all economic sectors operating in this stage in the emirate can return to normal working hours as they were before the global outbreak of Covid-19, while adhering to precautionary measures, such as placing physical-distancing stickers, wearing masks and gloves, providing sterilisation devices, and checking body temperature of people entering.

UAE, Israel private companies join hands to fight Covid-19

Two private companies in the UAE have signed an agreement with two firms in Israel to develop research and technology to fight Covid-19.

This follows the need to strengthen international cooperation and coordinated efforts in the fields of research, development, and technology in service of humanity in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

This scientific and medical agreement forms part of constructive cooperation aimed at addressing the Covid-19 pandemic to safeguard the health of the region's peoples.

India sees highest single-day spike of 17,296 Covid-19 cases, tally reaches 4,90,401

With the highest single-day spike of 17,296 Covid-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 count reached 4,90,401 on Friday, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

The country also saw 407 deaths in the last 24 hours, which pushed the death toll to 15,301.

The total number of cases includes 1,89,463 active cases, 2,85,637cured/discharged/migrated cases, as per the MoHFW.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of samples tested up to June 25 is 77,76,228; the number of samples tested on 25 June is 2,15,446.

700km Brazil 'megaflash' sets lightning record: UN

The UN's weather agency announced Thursday the longest lightning bolt on record - a single flash in Brazil on October 31, 2018 that cut the sky across more than 700 kilometres.

That is equivalent to the distance between Boston and Washington DC in the United States, or between London and Basel, Switzerland, the World Meteorological Organization said in a statement.

WMO's committee of experts on weather and climate extremes also reported a new world record for the duration of a lightning flash, with a single flash that developed continuously over northern Argentina on March 4, 2019 lasting for a full 16.73 seconds.

Lightning kills at least 107 in India monsoon

At least 107 people died from lightning strikes in northern and eastern India Thursday, officials said, during the early stages of the annual monsoon season.

Some 83 people were killed in the impoverished eastern state of Bihar after being struck by lightning, and another 24 died in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

Dozens more were injured, officials said.

Sharjah extends suspension of events, public gatherings to curb coronavirus spread

Sharjah announced an extension in suspension of social gatherings and events till the end of July.

In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, the Sharjah Executive Council, issued a decision to extend the suspension of all social events, celebrations held in wedding halls, event halls, hotels, and government and community facilities until the end of July.

UAE restaurants, shopping centres can now operate at 60% capacity

The capacity in shopping centres and resturants has been increased to 60 per cent, according to a circular issued by UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and Ministry of Health and Prevention on Thursday.

NCEMA and MoHAP have taken the decision to increase the percentage capacity of the general public at commercial centres and restaurants to 60 per cent, with coronavirus precautionary measures.

Flying with flydubai? Here are the Covid-19 guidelines you should follow

Dubai-based carrier flydubai on Thursday offered a simple guide for those planning to travel this summer following the relaunch of its schedule from July 7.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we travel and we will all have to play our role. This is why we are sharing these simple steps for passengers to follow to enable them to travel safely and hassle-free this summer."
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