Bahrain Says Covid-19 Infection Curve Starting to Flatten

Bahrain Says Covid-19 Infection Curve Starting to Flatten
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Bahrain Says Covid-19 Infection Curve Starting to Flatten

Bahrain Says Covid-19 Infection Curve Starting to Flatten

Bahrain is witnessing the flattening of the curve of Covid-19 infections, reflecting the people’s commitment to health measures, said senior member Dr. Jameela Al Salman of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus.

Salman urged citizens and residents to continue comply with to precautionary measures “to achieve the desired goal of eliminating the virus”.

She said that between January and May 2021, 665 people died from the virus and that 90 percent of the fatalities were not vaccinated. People who have been vaccinated and still passed away were already suffering from chronic diseases.

Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and member of the Taskforce, Dr., Waleed Khalifa Al Manea, highlighted the decision made last week to raise the capacity of the number of daily vaccination doses to 31,000 across 31 health centers across the kingdom.

Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the Taskforce, Lt. Col. Dr., Manaf Al Qahtani, clarified and addressed some of the speculation in the media about the reasons for the increase in the number of cases in intensive care units, which topped 300 by June 2.

He revealed that on June 1, the number of cases in intensive care wards reached 326, of which 270, or 83 percent, had not been vaccinated.



Iran Says It Downed US Drone and Attacked an Air Base in the UAE

A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
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Iran Says It Downed US Drone and Attacked an Air Base in the UAE

A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
A US MQ-9 drone (archive)

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported on Monday, citing a statement by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, that Iran had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz using air defense missiles, causing it to crash into Gulf waters.

Iranian state TV, meanwhile, cited a statement by the Iranian army as saying that the military attacked the United Arab Emirates' Al Minhad Air Base with drones early ‌on Monday.


Report: GCC Countries Provided $6.1 Billion in Aid in 2025

Report: GCC Countries Provided $6.1 Billion in Aid in 2025
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Report: GCC Countries Provided $6.1 Billion in Aid in 2025

Report: GCC Countries Provided $6.1 Billion in Aid in 2025

A GCC statistical report revealed that the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries provided $6.1 billion in relief aid in 2025, accounting for around 21.7 percent of the world's total relief assistance.

In a report to mark World Humanitarian Day, which falls on August 19, the GCC Statistical Center said that "this indicator reflects the growing Gulf role in the humanitarian and relief work system at the international level."

It explained that this also comes within the framework of the importance the GCC countries place on protecting humanitarian workers and individuals who depend on aid for food, healthcare, and protection, as well as enhancing humanitarian solidarity in the face of crises.

Relief aid provided by the GCC countries is not limited to responding to immediate needs during emergencies, but rather extends to a number of vital sectors aimed at supporting the recovery of affected communities, boosting stability, and achieving sustainable development.

The report said "basic services" sectors accounted for 77.8 percent of total Gulf aid during 2025. This encompassed a wide range of fields, led by health, early recovery, services, water, governance, the environment, and reintegration of displaced persons, alongside other essential sectors, such as education and food security.

The report said that the health field accounted for 33.4 percent of aid, followed by early recovery with 23.2 percent, food security with 15.3 percent, education with 7 percent, and the contribution of other sectors amounted to 22.1 percent.

It noted that these figures "confirm the broad scope of the Gulf contribution to humanitarian work, combining urgent relief with supporting recovery, capacity building, and basic services, thereby strengthening the ability of affected communities to overcome crises and restore long-term stability."

It stressed that the GCC countries are among the most prominent international actors in the field of humanitarian and relief work, and that their development policies and rapid response to crises have contributed to consolidating their position as one of the world's largest donors of official and voluntary humanitarian aid.

The GCC Statistical Center was formed in 2011 and is based in Oman. It was established to be the official approved source for data, information, and statistics related to the GCC countries.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Developments in Niamey

A view of an empty street following a mutineers' attack on the airport and the presidency in Niamey, Niger, August 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of an empty street following a mutineers' attack on the airport and the presidency in Niamey, Niger, August 29, 2026. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Developments in Niamey

A view of an empty street following a mutineers' attack on the airport and the presidency in Niamey, Niger, August 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of an empty street following a mutineers' attack on the airport and the presidency in Niamey, Niger, August 29, 2026. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the developments that took place in Niamey on Saturday, saying the Kingdom “stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger against any attempt to undermine the country’s security and stability.”

A Foreign Ministry statement underlined the Kingdom’s support for all efforts that help “in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of Niger and protecting its resources against rebel groups.”

It wished Niger and its people continued security and prosperity.