UK further eases Covid-19 restrictions

17 May, 2021

London, May 17 (IANS) People in England, Scotland and Wales can now sit indoors in pubs and restaurants and can hug each other again, in the biggest single lifting of coronavirus restrictions since the start of the UK's successful vaccination campaign.

MORE NEWS

Colombian protest leaders present demands to govt (17 May, 2021)

Bogota, May 17 (IANS) After more than two weeks of violent protests in Colombia, national strike leaders have presented a list of demands to the country's government.

S'pore, HK again postpone travel bubble launch (17 May, 2021)

Singapore, May 17 (IANS) Singapore and Hong Kong are for the second time postponing the start of their quarantine-free travel bubble, the Transport Ministry here said on Monday, citing "the evolving Covid-19 situation" in the city-state.

Aid ship rescues over 300 people in Mediterranean (17 May, 2021)

Rome, May 17 (IANS) The aid ship Sea-Eye 4 has rescued about 330 migrants attempting to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in the past few days, the private vessel's German operator announced on Monday.

Taiwan bars entry to non-nationals after Covid spike (17 May, 2021)

Taipei, May 17 (IANS) Taiwan is banning the entry of non-nationals without a resident permit and the transit of international airport passengers, after reporting a new daily record of 333 locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Monday.

Turkey eases strict lockdown (17 May, 2021)

Ankara, May 17 (IANS) Turkey emerged from its strictest nationwide shutdown on Monday aimed at containing the coronavirus, but weeknight and weekend curfews will remain in place.

3,150 rockets fired from Gaza: Israel Army (17 May, 2021)

Tel Aviv, May 17 (IANS) A week after the shelling began, Palestinian militants have fired some 3,150 rockets from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, the Israeli Army said on Monday.

NZ 'travel bubble' expands to include Cook Islands (17 May, 2021)

Wellington, May 17 (IANS) The Cook Islands has opened its border for the first time in more than a year, with New Zealanders able to visit the small Pacific nation from Monday.

Czech Prez accuses Russia of 'stupidity' over 'unfriendly' label (17 May, 2021)

Prague, May 17 (IANS) Czech President Milos Zeman has criticised Russia's decision to put his country on a new list of so-called unfriendly foreign states.

Pandemic has increased violence against LGBTI people: EU (17 May, 2021)

Brussels, May 17 (IANS) The European Union's (EU) foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has highlighted the worsening situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

UNSC urges cessation of Israel-Palestine violence (17 May, 2021)

United Nations, May 17 (IANS) As tensions between Israeli troops and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip were continuing unabated, the UN Security Council (UNSC) has called for an immediate end to the bloodshed.