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Boris Johnson assures England is not being put into lockdown

The BBC reported that Boris Johnson has insisted England is not being put into lockdown by stealth, despite accusations from some of his own MPs.
The prime minister said he was not telling the public to cancel events, but urging them to exercise "caution".
It comes as chief medical officer Chris Whitty suggested people "prioritise" activities in the run-up to Christmas.
Conservative MP Steve Brine accused the government of "putting hospitality into effective lockdown".
Mr Brine said Prof Whitty's comments meant businesses were facing "complete ruin" and more government support was needed.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will hold discussions with business leaders on Friday, after deciding to cut short an official trip to the US to return to the UK.

He is facing demands for increased financial support to help affected sectors cope with booking cancellations, amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
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The PM's spokesman denied Number 10 was sending out mixed messages about socialising over Christmas, adding that both the prime minister and the chief medical officer "were making the point that given the current infection rate people should be cautious and think carefully before mixing with others".
However, Labour has urged ministers to be more specific about how they want people to behave in the coming weeks.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has called for "clarity from the government" on whether football fans should still go to matches - with thousands due to attend fixtures in the coming days, despite some being postponed due to players isolating.
The party is also demanding Mr Sunak produces a plan to help sectors affected by cancelled bookings and staff shortages, in the wake of the advice to scale back socialising.
It is calling on ministers to offer firms more flexibility on paying back government loans, cuts to business rates, and an improved insurance scheme for theatres forced to cancel shows due to performer absences.
The pub industry is also calling for more support, with the British Beer & Pub Association estimating the sector is set to lose £297m in trade over the traditionally busy Christmas period.
Asked if the government was imposing a lockdown by stealth, Mr Johnson said the situation was "very different" from last year due to the existence of vaccines and testing.
"If you want to go to an event or a party... the sensible thing to do is to get a test and to make sure that you're being cautious.
"But we're not saying that we want to cancel stuff, we're not locking stuff down, and the fastest route back to normality is to get boosted."
Meanwhile, a number of Conservative MPs have questioned Prof Whitty's role in offering advice to the public.
In a tweet she later deleted, Conservative MP for Beaconsfield Joy Morrissey said: "Perhaps the unelected Covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED members of Parliament and the prime minister have decided.
"I know it's difficult to remember but that's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state."
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Labour has called the comments "unacceptable and dangerous" and urged Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to remove her from her role as his parliamentary aide unless she apologises.
Meanwhile, Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that restrictions on "higher risk settings" may be "unavoidable" amid rising Omicron cases.
Writing to Mr Johnson on Thursday, she said urgent financial help was needed to protect businesses from the "economic shock" of a surge in infections.
Ms Sturgeon has already advised people in Scotland to limit socialising to three households at a time over the festive period, but in her letter said there may be a need to "strengthen" guidance further.
Source: BBC
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
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.”
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