Author: News Desk

Australia is sticking to plans to start re-opening to the rest of the world only from the middle of next year, officials said on Sunday, resisting mounting pressure to end the closure of international borders. In March 2020, Australia closed its borders to non-nationals and non-residents and has since been allowing only limited international arrivals, mainly citizens returning from abroad. “All the way through we will be guided by the medical advice,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a televised briefing. “We will be guided by the economic advice.” Earlier in the day, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting…

India is preparing to evacuate thousands of people from low-lying areas along its western coast as a powerful cyclone is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning in the state of Gujarat. “It is very likely to intensify further during the 24 hours, and move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening of 17th (May),” the India Meteorological Department said in a statement. Cyclone Tauktae, which formed in the Arabian sea, is expected to cross Gujarat with wind gusts of up to 175 kmph (109 mph) and is expected to make landfall in the state the following morning. India…

Britain will make a decision on June 14 about whether or not to go ahead with the final phase of its easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, health minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday. Britain on Friday announced that it would accelerate its COVID-19 vaccination programme to try to contain a fast-spreading variant first identified in India, which could knock a re-opening of the economy off track, reported Reuters. “We’ll make a final decision for step four, which is the biggest step on the roadmap. We’ll make that final decision on the 14th of June,” Hancock told Sky News. The last…

India reported a smaller rise in daily COVID-19 cases for the third straight day on Sunday, but the number of deaths in 24 hours was higher than 4,000, taking the country’s death toll to 270,000. Deaths grew by 4,077, while infections rose by 311,170 – the smallest rise in daily cases in over three weeks, health ministry data showed on Sunday. Total infections have risen by over 2 million this week and deaths by nearly 28,000. India’s massive second wave of infections began in February, putting hospitals and medical workers under pressure. Cases have fallen steadily in states hit by…

Seven restaurants located in Muharraq, the Northern and Capital Governorates have been shut down for one week for flouting the mandary precautionary measures for combating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Ministry of Health coordinated the closure of the outlets with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. The closed restaurants were found in breach of ministerial edict 51 of 2929 on mandatory health protocols at restaurants and cafes to combat the pandemic and curb infections. Restaurant closed temporarily for flouting health measures in Bahrain 3 mosques closed temporarily for violating Eid Al-Fitr prayer precautions The…

The King Fahd Causeway Passports Division has completed all procedures for the passengers traffic after the decision of lifting the travel suspension for citizens, and the opening of land, sea and air ports as of 1 AM in the morning on Monday (May 17, 2021). The Passports Division has also completed all preparations related to King Fahd Causeway linking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said Saudi Press Agency. Arab Parliament to hold emergency session on Palestinian developments 3 mosques closed temporarily for violating Eid Al-Fitr prayer precautions Director of King Fahd Causeway Passports, Colonel Duwaihi Al-Sahli, said that…

National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander Major-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, held a video call with the Royal Guard expedition, which succeeded a few days ago in reaching the peak of Mt Everest, the highest mountain summit in the world. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad exchanged with the royal Guard team congratulations on Eid Al Fitr, wishing everyone many happy returns. He took pride in the Royal Guard team’s efforts and strong determination to achieve the desired goal, which reflects the potential of Bahraini youth to overcome all difficulties and honour the Kingdom of Bahrain in international…

Zlatan Ibrahimović will miss the upcoming European Championship because of a knee injury, the Swedish soccer federation said Saturday. Ibrahimović limped out of AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Juventus last weekend and the Sweden forward had further tests on his injured left knee on Saturday. Milan released a statement saying that Ibrahimović will undergo “a conservative treatment of six weeks” and the Swedish soccer federation announced shortly afterward that the 39-year-old had told the national coach that he would not be fit in time for the tournament. Ibrahimović came out of international retirement in March, five years after his last…

Ethiopia has postponed parliamentary elections due on June 5, the country’s electoral body said on Saturday, adding it did not foresee a delay of more than three weeks. The Horn of Africa country was originally scheduled to hold the vote in August 2020 but it was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, there has been conflict in the northern region of Tigray, which will not take part in voting, as well as in other areas. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party face challenges from increasingly strident ethnically-based parties seeking more power for their regions. Birtukan Mideksa,…

China has decided to cancel the 2021 spring climbing season from the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, because of coronavirus concerns, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday. It cited a notice on Friday from the General Administration of Sport, following a severe pandemic situation. The Himalayan nation of Nepal, which is so short of oxygen canisters it has asked mountaineers to bring back their empties, has issued a record 408 permits to climb Everest in the April-May season after last year’s closure. In contrast, a total of 21 Chinese climbers had secured approval for climbs in…