UK Parliament set to close as nationwide lockdown sets in
March 25, 2020, 5:13 pm

UK Parliament set to close as nationwide lockdown sets in

Artist Kaya Mar holds a painting depicting Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, outside Houses of Parliament, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, in London, Britain March 16, 2020

As the UK adopts increasingly stringent measures to combat the coronavirus, British MPs are expected to vote later to close Parliament until April 21– breaking a week earlier than the traditional Easter recess. UK Parliament

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown on Monday evening, telling the public to stay at home and banning groups of more than two people.

After passing emergency laws, the House of Commons will now vote on whether to shut down Parliament earlier than the planned Easter break on March 31. The motion is expected to pass unopposed.

In mid-March, junior health minister Nadine Dorries contracted the illness.

Police and the government are rushing to enforce social distancing measures to relieve pressure on the National Health Service.

Johnson has demanded citizens stay at home or face getting arrested. “If you don't follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce,” the PM warned.

This means no direct contact with friends or family members who do not live in the same home, and only leaving to shop for food “as infrequently as possible,” one form of exercise” a day, getting medical care or commuting to and from work if necessary.

People could be fined up to £30 for meeting in groups without a valid reason. UK Parliament

Britain currently has 8,077 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 422 deaths - an increase of 87 in just 24 hours. levant

source: Reuters levant

Not enough rooms in hospitals, ‘many can’t make it and die at home’, says mayor at epicenter of Covid-19 outbreak in Italy Bahrain confirms new coronavirus fatality, death toll up to four

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”