The palm-sized LignoSat is tasked to demonstrate the cosmic potential of the renewable material as humans explore living in space
asia1 hour ago
Israel will impose a third national lockdown to fight surging Covid-19 infections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, as the country pursues a vaccination campaign.
The restrictions will come into effect on Sunday evening and last for 14 days, pending final cabinet approval, a statement from Netanyahu's office said.
They include the closure of shops, limited public transport, a partial shutdown of schools and a one-kilometre (two-thirds of a mile) restriction on travel from home, except for commuting to workplaces that remain open, and to purchase essential goods.
Such measures will cost Israel's economy about three billion shekels (Dh3.4 billion) a week, the Finance Ministry said.
"This closure will erase us. We passed two, now the third will kill us. To hell with it," said Ovadia, a fruit stand vendor in a Tel Aviv market. He declined to give his full name.
The economy is expected to shrink 4.5 per cent in 2020, though the Bank of Israel has said the contraction could reach 5 per cent should the Covid-19 crisis prompt more curbs. In November, the jobless rate stood at 12 per cent. The economy is projected to grow as much as 6.5 per cent in 2021 and possibly faster - if the pandemic is contained.
With a population of nine million, Israel has so far reported more than 385,000 cases of Covid-19 and 3,150 deaths.
The number of daily infections approached 4,000 on Wednesday, rising from around 1,000 at the end of a month-long lockdown imposed in September that followed one that ran from late March to early May.
On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said it had found four people infected with the new variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain.
With regard to Israel's Christian minority, the Health Ministry said that during Christmas, prayers at houses of worship would be limited to gatherings of 10 people in closed spaces and 100 people in open areas.
The new lockdown comes with Israel's vaccination drive already underway. Health workers and people over the age of 60 are the first groups to be inoculated in a campaign which the health minister said he expected to be completed within months.
But public anger has risen over the government's perceived inconsistent handling of the crisis, and Israel will hold an election on March 23, its fourth in two years, after constant infighting in Netanyahu's coalition.
The palm-sized LignoSat is tasked to demonstrate the cosmic potential of the renewable material as humans explore living in space
asia1 hour ago
From theatre and live entertainment to galleries and conferences, this versatile building in Downtown Dubai hosts a wide variety of events
life and living1 hour ago
The storm could hit land between Thursday evening and Friday morning around the northern province of Cagayan, bringing torrential rain to towns in its path, says weather agency
asia1 hour ago
The city has an efficient marine transport system apart from buses, metro, tram and taxis
life and living1 hour ago
Mohammad Samara and Khaled Al Shaer, along with 5 other innovators, are leading a broader push for eco-friendly craftsmanship at this year's Dubai Design Week
lifestyle1 hour ago
Rates in the northern emirates are nearly half the cost of plans in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
health1 hour ago
With this year's race going down to the wire, experts point to a growing risk of delays and complications
americas1 hour ago
A meal with a Burj Khalifa view? Absolutely
restaurant reviews2 hours ago