My Scribles

Expanded testing allows for early identification of Covid-19 cases as well as those who have come in contact with positive cases. As part of the relentless efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Dubai authorities are continuing to increase provision of Covid-19 testing across government and private hospitals and drive-through centres. The emirate's various testing facilities have completed a total of over 612,000 Covid-19 tests as of June 19, according to the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre. Ensuring the widespread availability Covid-19 testing is part of an integrated plan to further curb the spread of the virus and offer immediate medical care to infected people at hospitals, accredited facilities and quarantine centres. Comprehensive measures undertaken by the emirate to fight Covid-19 and the concerted efforts of the public and private sector and the community over the past few months have helped Dubai achieve marked progress in curbing the spread of the virus. Dr. Hanan...

At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a disputed Himalayan border area, Indian officials say. The incident follows rising tensions, and is the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years. The Indian army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed, adding that both sides suffered casualties. But later on Tuesday, officials said a number of critically injured soldiers had died of their wounds. India's external affairs ministry accused China of breaking an agreement struck the previous week to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says violence between two armies high up in the Himalayas is very serious, and pressure will grow on the two nuclear powers not to allow a slide into full-scale conflict. What have both sides said about the incident? Early on Tuesday the Indian army said three of its soldiers, including an officer, had died in a clash in Ladakh, in...

Mollywood filmmaker and scriptwriter Sachy, who was admitted to Thrissur Jubilee Mission Hospital on June 16 after having suffered a cardiac arrest, passed away on June 18 Sachy was admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur on Tuesday following cardiac-related complications after undergoing a hip-replacement surgery at another hospital in Vadakkanchery. He was in a critical condition and on ventilator for the past two days. Leaving behind a career in law, Sachy entered the Malayalam film industry as a screenwriter. Along with writer Sethu, he penned movies like Chocolate, Robin Hood, Makeup Man, Seniors and Doubles. He, however, parted ways with Sethunath in 2011. Sachy then went solo and penned movies like Run Baby Run, Chettayees, Ramaleela, Sherlock Toms and Driving License. He also wrote and directed Anarkali and Ayyappanum Koshiyum

Birdwatchers in the UAE were pleasantly surprised to spot a very rare bird species in Dubai on May 29. Known as the Basra Reed-warbler, the sparrow-sized bird has been listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is the second time that the rare bird was spotted in the UAE. The first time it was seen in the UAE was on April 26 in 2010.