Top headlines: Eclipse wows UAE residents; play areas in Dubai parks now open; parking fees in Abu Dhabi to resume

Dubai - Here's a look at some of the stories that made the headlines over the last 24 hours.

Children's play areas in Dubai parks are now open

The Dubai Municipality on Sunday announced that children's play areas in the emirate's parks are now open.

"In line with the need for citizens to return to their normal life, Dubai Municipality announces the re-opening of children's play areas today in all parks in Dubai, following the highest public safety measures," the municipality said.

The children's play areas had been shut as part of preventive measures because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Sunset Promenade: Dubai launches new tourist beach destination

A city that has earned global fame for its desire to relentlessly march towards excellence has now announced a new mega project.

Having already possessed the tallest skyscraper and largest man-man island in the world, Dubai is now all set to add a new feather in its cap.

The RTA, in a video on their official Twitter handle on Sunday, announced their new project: Sunset Promenade.

The promenade will feature an array of floating islands that will add to the list of iconic landmarks that draw millions of people to Dubai every year.

Spread over an area of 190,000 sq m, the 1km-long promenade will be connected to the Jumeirah Beach Walk near the Dubai Canal, and will have modern designs for green hills, sandy hills, as well as private parking.

UAE health ministry to gradually resume suspended services from today

Scheduled surgeries are among the medical services that will be resumed from Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has announced.

"Hospitals will be allowed to perform scheduled surgeries of an urgent medical condition according to certain conditions, in order to meet the patient's needs. However, plastic surgeries will remain suspended in all hospitals, except in urgent medical conditions."

All medical services will be provided in a safe way to meet patient's needs in all specialties and at all service delivery points, added the ministry.

Parking fees to resume in Abu Dhabi from July 1

Public parking fees will be resumed from July 1 at 8 am, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi announced on Sunday.

There was a three-month suspension of fees to support community members during the challenging times of the spread of Covid-19.

For the public's convenience, ITC offers m-Mawaqif service that allows users to pay for parking fees using their mobile phones.

Cinemas, parks, beaches to open in Sharjah

Cinemas, parks, beaches and swimming pools are among the public spaces that will be reopened in Sharjah at 50 per cent capacity on June 24.

This came as the Emergency and Crisis Management Team in Sharjah met remotely.

As he chaired the meeting, Maj-Gen Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of the Sharjah Police, discussed with heads of other government departments the precautionary measures that will be implemented before the public spaces are reopened.

New managing director appointed for Dubai metro, tram

Public services company Serco Middle East has appointed Wallace Weatherill as its new managing director, a role in which he will spearhead the operations of the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Tram in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Serco operates and maintains the Dubai Metro and operates the Dubai Tram on behalf of the RTA. Wallace has worked in the Middle East rail industry for over six years, firstly mobilising the North-South high-speed passenger railway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tickets for Louvre Abu Dhabi now available online

Tickets can now be purchased on Louvre Abu Dhabi's website ahead of the museum's reopening this Wednesday, June 24.

Visitors will once again be able to experience Louvre Abu Dhabi's world-class collection and view its latest international exhibition, 'Furusiyya: The Art of Chivalry between East and West', which will run from July 1 and extended until October 18.

Entry will be free for guests under the age of 18, as part of the museum's mission to engage the young audiences and families.

Thousands of UAE residents stargaze as the moon dims the sun

The day was much darker than usual in the UAE as the much awaited partial solar eclipse blocked over 80 per cent of the sun.

The three-hour spectacle began at 8.14am and peaked at 9.36am. It was visible in the UAE till 11.12am.

Annular eclipses occur when the Moon - passing between Earth and the Sun - is not quite close enough to our planet to completely obscure sunlight, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible. In the UAE, it was visible as a partial eclipse.

Six gangsters who stole three vehicles in UAE arrested

Six gangsters, who were reportedly involved in the theft of three vehicles in Ras Al Khaimah, were arrested recently, police said.

Major-General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, General Commander of the RAK Police, said the suspects allegedly stole the vehicles during national sterilisation hours, while most residents were home.

"After being alerted to the theft, the RAK Police formed a search and action team, which managed to track down and arrest the gang," said Maj-Gen Al Nuaimi.

Investigations showed that the suspects - all Asian expats - moved the stolen vehicles from Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah.

How to prevent kitchen fires during summer: UAE police share 10 tips

Police in Abu Dhabi have reminded people about being cautious while dealing with fire in the kitchen.

Sharing 10 precautionary measures on its Facebook page, the Abu Dhabi Police said kitchens are more prone to catch fire than any other areas of the house.  "Never leave the kitchen for long durations while cooking and never wear easily flammable clothes," said the force.

At least nine people shot at large gathering in New York

Nine people were shot at a Saturday night "celebration" in central New York, authorities said.

Of the nine victims, one was a 17-year-old boy in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head and eight others - ranging in age from 18 to 53 - were expected to survive, a release from Syracuse police said.

No one was immediately taken into custody, and Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner emphasised that the investigation was in its early stages in an appearance at a press conference alongside Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.

306 more casualties take India's Covid-19 death toll to 13,254

India may be set to further relax the nationwide lockdown, but it has recorded 681 deaths due to novel coronavirus, including 306 between Saturday and Sunday and 375 deaths in the previous 24-hour cycle. India's death toll now stands at 13,254.

Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, India recorded 1,69,451 active cases. In the last 24 hours, it witnessed record 15,413 new cases compared with 14,516 a day earlier.

With Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal recording significant new cases with each passing day, India's total corona cases as of Sunday stood at 4,10,461.

Three slain in stabbing at UK park, police say motive unclear

Three people were killed and three seriously injured when an assailant went on a stabbing rampage in a park filled with people relaxing in the southern English city of Reading on Saturday, police said.

The Thames Valley Police said they had launched a murder investigation and were not treating the incident as terror-related after making one arrest at the scene.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the "appalling incident" and other leading politicians expressed sympathies for those hurt at the Forbury Gardens park in the historic centre of the city of 220,000.

• Dubai