Canada, US to close border to non-essential travel amid coronavirus: Report
March 18, 2020, 10:21 am

Canada, US to close border to non-essential travel amid coronavirus: Report

Two pedestrians take a photo at an entry sign as traffic enters the United States from Canada at the Peace Arch Border Crossing, in Blaine, Wash. (AP)

Canada and the United States will announce a deal to partially close their borders on Wednesday, which will allow trade and commerce to go on, the Globe and Mail reported, citing sources. border

Two countries are finalizing a deal to close the borders to non-essential travel in order to control the spread of coronavirus, the report said on Tuesday.

The partial shutdown will allow cross-border transfer of medical supplies, food and other goods, the report said, citing an unnamed official.

Both countries want to keep trade and commerce going, including the movement of auto parts, the official told Globe and Mail.

Canada closed its borders to all foreign nationals except US citizens and permanent residents on Monday.

As the SARS-CoV-2 spread accelerates in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is under quarantine after his wife Sophie, tested positive for the respiratory virus, earlier urged people to stay home and restrict contact with others. border

As of Tuesday, Canada had reported 441 coronavirus cases with 4 deaths, while US recorded 4,744 cases and 87 deaths. levant

source: Reuters levant

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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.”