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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wellington, May 17 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit New Zealand for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting on May 30-31, it was announced here on Monday.

Sydney, May 17 (IANS) The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced on Monday that the temporary Covid-safe measures in place for the Greater Sydney area have been lifted, despite the missing link between previous local cases.

Kolkata, May 17 (IANS) Myanmar's military has finally taken control of the small town of Mindat in the country's western Chin state, after three weeks of savage fighting.

Toronto, May 17 (IANS) The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), along with 80-odd community bodies, launched its 'Oxygen for India marathon fundraiser to collect $2 million to send oxygen equipment to India, even as Ontario announced to send 2,000 more ventilators to the Covid-battered country.

Bangkok, May 17 (IANS) Thailand on Monday reported nearly 10,000 new Covid-19 cases, a record single-day spike, after massive infection clusters were detected in the country's prison system, according to officials.

Washington, May 17 (IANS) Rochelle Walensky, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that mandates in the country for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 have been left to individual companies and institutions.

Riyadh, May 17 (IANS) Saudi Arabia will lift the travel ban which was imposed last year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic from Monday, with authorities saying that they were ready to operate international flights at full capacity.

Damascus, May 17 (IANS) Syrian presidential campaigns have officially started as posters of President Bashar al-Assad and the two other candidates filled the squares and streets in the capital Damascus.

Dhaka, May 17 (IANS) Bangladesh has again extended the ongoing lockdown to May 23 in light of the current Covid-19 situation in the country and neighbouring India, which is battling a devastating second wave of the pandemic.

Amman, May 17 (IANS) Jordanian authorities are following up on the arrest of two nationals who crossed into Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Tehran, May 17 (IANS) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged to create "economic security" for the private sector, in order to further attract foreign investments in the country's free trade and special economic zones.

Baku, May 17 (IANS) Azerbaijan has launched a large-scale military exercise as the country was in a border tension with Armenia, according to the Defence Ministry here.

Barcelona, May 17 (IANS) Barcelona's Picasso Museum celebrated the 50th anniversary of the famed Spanish painter's donation of over a thousand works from his youth to the city in 1970.

London, May 17 (IANS) UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the coronavirus variant first detected in India can "spread like wildfire" among those who haven't received a vaccine against the disease.