Author: News Desk

LONDON :  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is walking a political tightrope as he faces increasing attacks from both friends and enemies amid a surge in COVID-19 infections. For the second winter in a row, Johnson is betting vaccines will be his savior, urging everyone to get booster shots to slow the spread of the new omicron variant, hoping to avoid further politically unpalatable restrictions on business and social activity. The threat to Johnson and his Conservative Party was on stark display last week as the prime minister reeled from one political crisis to another. On Tuesday, Johnson faced the…

WASHINGTON:  Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Sunday he cannot back his party’s signature $2 trillion social and environment bill, dealing a potentially fatal blow to President Joe Biden’s leading domestic initiative heading into an election year when Democrats’ narrow hold on Congress was already in peril. Manchin told “Fox News Sunday” that after five-and-half months of negotiations among Democrats in which he was his party’s chief obstacle to passage, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just can’t. I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there.” Manchin’s choice of words seemed to crack the door open to continued talks…

Abu Dhabi :  All UAE federal government employees and the public seeking federal government services nationwide are required to follow the Green Pass Protocol on Alhosn app effective 3rd January, 2022, to have access to federal entities, with entry to these departments to be confined to the individuals who have received two doses of UAE-approved COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. A negative PCR test every 14 days is needed to maintain the green status in Al Hosn app. This was announced by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in collaboration with the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority…

London : The United Kingdom reported more than 12,000 further confirmed cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the latest daily figures provided by health authorities on Sunday. The UK Health Security Agency said on Twitter there had been an additional 12,133 confirmed cases of Omicron over the previous 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 37,101.

Saudi Arabia’s public health authority has advised against all unnecessary travel outside the kingdom, especially to high-risk countries affected by the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Citing the “accelerated spread of the virus in many countries”, the authority also recommends that all travellers arriving in the kingdom self-isolate for at least five days. New arrivals in Saudi Arabia should take a PCR test if they experience respiratory symptoms or a high temperature, the health authority said. The health authority said incoming travellers should continue to follow preventative measures including mask-wearing and hand-washing. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia reported 80 new Covid-19 cases,…

India : Due to a rise in the cases of coronavirus due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)  urged people to avoid crowding and follow Covid-19 guidelines. The Mumbai civic body also warned of strict action against offenders. BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal has appealed people to avoid gatherings on Christmas and New Year. In a revised guideline, the BMC has said that squads will be deployed at ward level to take action against violators. It also reiterated adhering to Covid-19 rules during weddings and other ceremonies. The city civic body has appealed people to adhere…

Bahrain : A three-storey high largest luminous monument embodying the coats of arms of the Kingdom of Bahrain was unveiled in the Capital Governorate. Capital Municipality director-general Mohammed Saad Al Sahli inaugurated the emblem on the occasion of the kingdom’s National Days, in commemoration of the establishment of the modern Bahraini State as an Arab and Muslim state, founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783, and the anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne. Strategically located at the intersection between King Faisal Highway and Bahrain Bay, the emblem-shaped luminous monument is 12 metres high – that is…

Bahrain  : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa arrived this evening in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco, on a private visit. HM the King was received on arrival by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch who led the well-wishers.

India : India is working on at least six free trade agreements (FTAs), including one with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that can create a gateway for Indian trade to the Middle East and Africa and New Delhi may set up a huge India Mart in Dubai to tap that market, commerce minister Piyush Goyal said. India is negotiating trade deals with the UAE, the UK, the European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, Israel and a group of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The deal with the UAE is expected soon, a government official said requesting anonymity. The commerce minister on Monday…

GREENVILLE :  President Joe Biden on Saturday commemorated the 49th anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and infant daughter, visiting their graves at the Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church. Their deaths occurred just after Delaware voters elected Biden to the Senate in 1972 and the fatal car crash became a defining moment that has shaped his persona and career. His sons Beau and Hunter, just under 4 and 3 at the time, were seriously injured but survived the crash. His wife Neilia and 13-month-old daughter Naomi died after their car was broadsided while they…