China creates HISTORY with its first rover landing on Mars
An uncrewed Chinese spacecraft successfully landed on the surface of Mars on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, making China the second space-faring nation after the United States to land on the Red Planet. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft landed on a site on a vast plain known as Utopia Planitia, “leaving a Chinese footprint on Mars for the first time,” Xinhua said. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a message of congratulations to all the people involved in the mission.
“You were brave enough for the challenge, pursued excellence and placed our country in the advanced ranks of planetary exploration,” he said. “Your outstanding achievement will forever be etched in the memories of the motherland and the people.”
The craft left its parked orbit at about 1700 GMT Friday (0100 Beijing time Saturday). The landing module separated from the orbiter three hours later and entered the Martian atmosphere, the official China Space News said. It said the landing process consisted of “nine minutes of terror” as the module decelerates and then slowly descends.
The official landing time was 2318 GMT (0718 Beijing time), Xinhua said, citing the China National Space Administration. The rover took more than 17 minutes to unfold its solar panels and antenna and send signals to ground controllers more than 320 million kilometres away.
The rover, named Zhurong, will now survey the landing site before departing from its platform to conduct inspections. Named after a mythical Chinese god of fire, Zhurong has six scientific instruments including a high-resolution topography camera. It will study the planet’s surface soil and atmosphere. Zhurong will also look for signs of ancient life, including any sub-surface water and ice, using a ground-penetrating radar.
Tianwen-1, or “Questions to Heaven”, after a Chinese poem written two millennia ago, is China’s first independent mission to Mars. A probe co-launched with Russia in 2011 failed to leave the Earth’s orbit. The five-tonne spacecraft blasted off from the southern Chinese island of Hainan in July last year, launched by the powerful Long March 5 rocket. After more than six months in transit, Tianwen-1 reached the Red Planet in February where it had been in orbit since. If Zhurong is successfully deployed, China would be the first country to orbit, land and release a rover in its maiden mission to Mars. (Reuters)
Arab Parliament to hold emergency session on Palestinian developments
Under the chairmanship of Speaker, Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoomi, the Arab Parliament (AP) will hold an emergency session on May 18-19.
Member of the Representatives Council and AP member, MP Mamdooh Abbas Al-Saleh, will participate in the session which will discuss the latest developments in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and the attacks against the Palestinians, in breach of the international legitimacy’s resolutions.
Al-Asoomi will also chair the Palestine Committee at the Arab Parliament on May 18, and the AP’s Bureau meeting on May 22-23, to come up with a unified Arab parliamentary stance, take the necessary measures to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and coordinate with the Inter-Parliamentary Union to urge the International Community to put an end to Israel’s attacks against the Palestinians in Jerusalem, Gaza and the remaining Palestinian territories.
The Arab Parliament offered deepest condolences to the Palestinian Authority and the brotherly Palestinian people over the victims of Israeli attacks, wishing the wounded speedy recovery.
The Arab Parliament expressed its support for the Palestinian people, and condemnation of the Israeli attacks.
3 mosques closed temporarily for violating health precautions
3 mosques in the Capital Governorate have been shut down temporarily for failure to comply with COVID-19 health regulations concerning Eid Al-Fitr prayer. The Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, in coordination with the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19), decided to close the mosques for two weeks to enable the competent teams to track infections, carry out the disinfection operation and ascertain proper compliance and implementation of the precautionary procedures. The ministry called on all to assume the religious and national responsibility and fully adhere to the health regulations to ensure the safety of all citizens and residents.
Ethiopia postpones parliamentary elections
Ethiopia has postponed parliamentary elections due on June 5, the country’s electoral body said on Saturday, adding it did not foresee a delay of more than three weeks.
The Horn of Africa country was originally scheduled to hold the vote in August 2020 but it was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, there has been conflict in the northern region of Tigray, which will not take part in voting, as well as in other areas.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party face challenges from increasingly strident ethnically-based parties seeking more power for their regions.
Birtukan Mideksa, chairperson of The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), “indicated that delays in opening polling stations and voter registration have pushed the voting day,” state news agency Fana reported.
“We will let everybody (know) soon as to how many additional weeks/days to complete the delayed tasks … Wouldn’t be more than 3 weeks,” she added. (Reuters)
HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad holds video call with Royal Guard team
National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander Major-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, held a video call with the Royal Guard expedition, which succeeded a few days ago in reaching the peak of Mt Everest, the highest mountain summit in the world.
HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad exchanged with the royal Guard team congratulations on Eid Al Fitr, wishing everyone many happy returns.
He took pride in the Royal Guard team’s efforts and strong determination to achieve the desired goal, which reflects the potential of Bahraini youth to overcome all difficulties and honour the Kingdom of Bahrain in international arenas.
He said that His Majesty the King’s call with the expedition upon their success in reaching the Mt Everest peak was a catalyst for the team to continue honouring Bahrain, lauding the efforts of the Royal Guard affiliates.
The Royal Guard team paid tribute to HM the King, saying that HM’s phone call will always motivate them to further achievements for the Kingdom of Bahrain. They also praised HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad’s key role in this memorable achievement.
UAE attracts foreign investments of $20 billion in 2020
Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United Arab Emirates rose to $19.88 billion in 2020, up 44.2% from the previous year, the government said on Saturday.
Contributing to this figure were large deals carried out by the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), state news agency WAM said.
Economy minister Abdullah al-Marri said the UAE would move forward with initiatives to increase the efficiency of the business environment, strengthen investor confidence, increase opportunities in priority sectors, and unify efforts to improve competitiveness at local and federal levels.
Restaurant closed temporarily for flouting health measures
The Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry, represented by the Inspection Directorate, has announced the closure of a restaurant in the Muharraq Governorate for one week.
The decision was taken following an inspection visit by the Industry Ministry’s team, in cooperation with the Interior and Health ministries.
The inspectors found that the restaurant was violating the provisions of ministerial edict 51/2021 on the health requirements to be followed at restaurants and cafés.
They decided to close the outlet temporarily for flouting the mandatory health measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Outlets with minor violations were urged to rectify all irregularities immediately.
The Inspection Directorate affirmed that its field visits, along with the relevant authorities, will be intensified during Eid Al-Fitr holidays to ensure that all outlets are operating according to the procedures in place in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
China cancels Everest spring climbing over coronavirus worries
China has decided to cancel the 2021 spring climbing season from the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, because of coronavirus concerns, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday. It cited a notice on Friday from the General Administration of Sport, following a severe pandemic situation.
The Himalayan nation of Nepal, which is so short of oxygen canisters it has asked mountaineers to bring back their empties, has issued a record 408 permits to climb Everest in the April-May season after last year’s closure. In contrast, a total of 21 Chinese climbers had secured approval for climbs in spring, Xinhua added.
Last Sunday, state media said China would establish “a line of separation” at the summit of Everest to prevent the mingling of climbers from Nepal and those ascending from the Tibetan side as a precautionary measure. Everest has been scaled by more than 6,000 climbers since the first conquest by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. At least 311 people have died on the slopes of the mountain, which is 8,849 metres (29,032 ft) high.
Zlatan Ibrahimović out of Euro 2020 with knee injury
Zlatan Ibrahimović will miss the upcoming European Championship because of a knee injury, the Swedish soccer federation said Saturday. Ibrahimović limped out of AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Juventus last weekend and the Sweden forward had further tests on his injured left knee on Saturday.
Milan released a statement saying that Ibrahimović will undergo “a conservative treatment of six weeks” and the Swedish soccer federation announced shortly afterward that the 39-year-old had told the national coach that he would not be fit in time for the tournament. Ibrahimović came out of international retirement in March, five years after his last match for his country.
He produced three assists in his first two starts upon his return, in wins over Georgia and Kosovo in World Cup qualifying. Euro 2020, which was postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, kicks off on June 11, said an AP report.
Sweden’s first match is against Spain on June 14. It also plays Poland and Slovakia in Group E. Andersson confirmed that Ibrahimović had informed him earlier Saturday. “Of course, it feels sad, especially for Zlatan but also for us,” Andersson said in a statement. “I hope he is back on the field again as soon as possible.”
