US job losses mount as economic pain deepens worldwide
KSA pledges $500m for virus fight New houses for expat workers 4 more die in KSA, hoarders warned
The ranks of America’s unemployed swelled toward Great Depression-era levels on Thursday in an unprecedented collapse that intensified the push-pull from the White House over how and when to lift the coronovirus restrictions that have crippled the economy.
The government said 5.2 million more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the four-week total to about 22 million out of a work force of 159 million — easily the worst stretch of US job losses on record. The losses translate to about 1 in 7 workers.
More than 2.14 million people have been reported to be infected globally and 144,104 have died.
Saudi Arabia, which holds the G20 presidency, has pledged $500 million to international organizanumber
OPINION Political unrest may well grow, by Andrew Hammond
tions to support global efforts in combating the pandemic.
The Kingdom will allocate $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, $150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, and $200 million to other international and regional health organizations and programs.
Saudi Arabia announced a fine of up to SR1 million ($266,119) for traders attempting commercial fraud. The government encouraged the public to continue reporting cases of commercial fraud, with rewards of up to 25 percent of the paid fine. A total of 518 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Kingdom on Thursday, bringing the total in Saudi Arabia to 6,380 people. There are now 5,307 active cases with 71 in critical care. Fifty-nine new recovered cases have taken the total number of recoveries to 990, while four new deaths have raised the death toll to 83 in Saudi Arabia.
Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman inspected newly built housing facilities for expat workers. He said: “Migrant workers are our guests and their well being and safety is our responsibility.”
He added: “Our religion urges us to treat all workers compassionately.
A Saudi artist has created a painting to reflect the unprecedented decision taken by authorities to close the Grand Mosque in Makkah for prayers to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the city. Nabila Abuljadayel’s work depicted a solitary cleaner kneeling in the normally packed courtyard of the site, creating an image that has moved Muslims around the world during the global health emergency, called “Isjod wa Iqtareb” (Prostrate and Draw Near).
Abuljadayel said the idea for the painting came from the reality of the current situation in Makkah.
“My inspiration for this piece was based on the unprecedented and unparalleled moment it dawned on me that, for the first And as such, we refuse to have workers exposed to any kind of physical or psychological harm.” The economic damage, meanwhile, escalated around the world. In France, Amazon suspended operations after a court ruled it wasn’t doing enough to protect its workers in the country. In Britain, a government survey found that a quarter of companies had suspended business. Cargo traffic at Europe’s huge port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands sank more than 9% in the first quarter. Britain has extended its lockdown for “at least the next three weeks.” time in my life, I would not be able to visit the Grand Mosque,” she told Arab News. “It made me realize what an honor, privilege and blessing it was to be able to do that.”
She stated that the only people
India brought charges of culpable homicide against the chief of the Tablighi Jamaat group for holding a gathering last month that authorities blame for a big jump in coronavirus infections.
President Donald Trump’s administration is urging an investigation into the origins of the pandemic, saying it doesn’t rule out that it came from a laboratory researching bats in Wuhan, China.
Oman locked down a textile market in a town popular with tourists and Dubai restricted curfew movement permits on Thursday.
INSIDE
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KSA sees podcast revolution
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Call to free Palestinians in jail
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IRGC misleading Iranians
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Care for end-of-life patients
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Religious bias in Indian care
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Isolation: Social skills at risk
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Historic shock for oil market
who were now able to have the privilege of spending uninterrupted time in the holy site were those who maintained the Grand Mosque, and whose role often went unnoticed.
“Those same nameless, faceless