Gulf States Report Rise in Coronavirus Cases

Kuwaiti police use a drone to monitor residents walking in a neighborhood of Kuwait city on May 12, 2020. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
Kuwaiti police use a drone to monitor residents walking in a neighborhood of Kuwait city on May 12, 2020. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gulf States Report Rise in Coronavirus Cases

Kuwaiti police use a drone to monitor residents walking in a neighborhood of Kuwait city on May 12, 2020. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
Kuwaiti police use a drone to monitor residents walking in a neighborhood of Kuwait city on May 12, 2020. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

The Ministry of Health of Oman reported on Sunday 157 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate to 5,186.

The ministry said the total recoveries reached 1,465.

As for the UAE, it announced that an additional 581 patients recovered from COVID-19, raising the total number of recoveries to 8,512.

The Health Ministry said 731 new infections were identified, with the total number of cases amounting to 23,358.

Six deaths were announced, bringing the toll in the country to 220.

Another Gulf state, Bahrain, announced 183 new coronavirus cases. Its Health Ministry said that 12 people recovered in the past 24 hours.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced 1,048 new infections, bringing the total to 14,850. Five deaths were reported, increasing the death toll to 112.

Earlier Sunday, the Ministry announced the recovery of 250 patients, with total recoveries reaching 4,093.

Qatar’s Health Ministry said there were 1,632 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the number of infections to 32,604.

More patients died in the past 24 hours, it added.



GCC Reaffirms Support for Kuwait on Khor Abdullah Dispute

A glimpse of the GCC Ministerial Council's extraordinary meeting via video conference on Tuesday (GCC)
A glimpse of the GCC Ministerial Council's extraordinary meeting via video conference on Tuesday (GCC)
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GCC Reaffirms Support for Kuwait on Khor Abdullah Dispute

A glimpse of the GCC Ministerial Council's extraordinary meeting via video conference on Tuesday (GCC)
A glimpse of the GCC Ministerial Council's extraordinary meeting via video conference on Tuesday (GCC)

Gulf Arab states on Tuesday voiced their full support for Kuwait’s position in a maritime border dispute with Iraq, stressing the need for positive progress in demarcation talks and for Baghdad to respect Kuwaiti sovereignty.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said the bloc’s 47th extraordinary ministerial meeting was held in Riyadh under the chairmanship of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, whose country holds the rotating presidency.

The ministers discussed developments concerning the demarcation of the maritime boundary between Kuwait and Iraq beyond border marker 162.

Albudaiwi said Kuwait's foreign minister briefed his counterparts on the latest developments with Iraq and the outcomes of recent discussions on the issue.

In a joint statement, GCC foreign ministers expressed “the full and unwavering support of member states for Kuwait’s position on the maritime boundary demarcation with Iraq.”

They also called for “positive progress in the ongoing talks and a firm commitment to all protocols agreed by the joint technical and legal committee” on the demarcation process beyond marker 162.

Albudaiwi added that the GCC ministers reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any infringement on Kuwait’s sovereignty, including over its territory, islands, highlands, and maritime zones.

GCC ministers also reiterated their firm stance on the ownership of the Durra gas field, reaffirming commitment to previous decisions made during the GCC’s 45th summit in December 2024.

The council emphasized that the entire Durra field lies within Kuwait’s maritime territory, underscoring that the natural resources in the submerged area adjacent to the divided zone shared between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – including the Durra field – are jointly owned by the two countries.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia hold exclusive rights to exploit these resources, in accordance with international law and existing agreements between the two nations.

The GCC’s statement further stressed its resolute rejection of any claims by other parties to rights over the Durra field or the submerged area bordering the Kuwait-Saudi divided zone.