Author: News Desk

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s sister Isobel has released a new single, which she has described as “intimate.” Isobel is a classical composer who came into the public eye after writing the music for her sister’s hit show Fleabag.  She has also written the scores for other films and shows including Emma, Black Mirror and Vanity Fair.  New single Isobel has said her new single – September – is her “most personal project” and has called it a “hello” to her new record label Mercury KX.  The track won’t be on her second album, which the 35-year-old is currently recording, but will appear…

After 240 days, Australia’s New South Wales is no longer on fire The state of New South Wales is free from bushfires for the first time in more than 240 days. More than 7 months of devastating fires in Australia have claimed the lives of at least 28 people. It has destroyed around 3,000 homes and affected up to a billion animals.  On Feb 13, fire officials said all the fires in New South Wales had been contained for the first time. But now, all the bushfires have officially been extinguished.  “For the first time since early July 2019, there…

The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a notice to close schools for a month in an attempt to try to contain the outbreak of the Cornovairus in the region. Schools and universities across the UAE  will close starting Sunday, March 8 for a month to contain the spread of Covid-19, the country’s Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday. The UAE government is one of the first to react to the coronavirus outbreak. As it aims to contain the outbreak which has seen a surge of new cases. On Tuesday reported six new cases of coronavirus which…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – A 19-year-old man has been arrested over a reported threat he made against one of the mosques that were attacked in last year’s massacre in New Zealand.  In the US, Bernie leads and his campaign attempts to keep Cali voting stations open past 8 pm as wait times of over 4 hours threaten victory. In the UK, Home Secretary Priti Patel is facing fresh bullying claims – the third government department to make accusations of bullying against Patel.  Coronavirus, Iran has temporarily released 54,000 prisoners in an…

Two men are being questioned under terror laws over an attack on a prison officer at HMP Whitemoor – a maximum security jail.  The officer was stabbed in the head, chest and face as the cells were unlocked at the prison on 9 January.  The men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and preparation of a terrorist act, the MET police said.  They are alleged to have attacked an officer with improvised weapons. Police said at the time the men were wearing fake suicide belts.  Three prison officers and a nurse were…

A pet dog has been put in quarantine in Hong Kong after testing “weak positive” for the coronavirus, authorities said.  The owner, who was infected with the virus, handed the dog over to the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the department confirmed in a statement.  “We’re working with authorities in Hong Kong and scientists in Hong Kong who are testing … the dog … to understand these results and to understand where or if the dog was actually infected or if the dog picked this up from a contaminated surface, for example,” Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, technical…

The COVID-19 disease has spread to more countries and capitals with almost nine times as many cases reported outside China as inside in the past 24 hours. The EU has raised risk levels as global deaths passed 3,000. And the UK outbreak Coronavirus cases have grown significantly. The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the world was in “unchartered territory.” “We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press briefing. Almost nine times as many cases were reported…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are Israeli PM Netanyahu is projected to win the Israeli election but will likely be just short of a majority. Shortest peace deal ever? The Taliban ends partial truce with the US, announces plans to resume Afghan military ‘operations’ after Afghanistan refuses to release 5,000 prisoners.  Coronavirus, in the US the death toll has now risen to six – after four more Washington citizens died. Saudi Arabia has announced its first case of COVID-19 amid growing fears the surge in numbers of those infected in Iran is threatening the…

Mohammad Rasoulof’s film about capital punishment has won the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.  The Iranian director was banned from directing in 2017. He produced There Is No Evil, his sixth film, in secret.  But the director is unable to travel outside of Iran because of charges relating to his earlier films.  Mr Rasoulf’s daughter Baran – who stars in the film, received the Golden Bear on his behalf. https://twitter.com/AraiDariush/status/1234105524850954240 Iran film – There Is No Evil At the Berlin film festival, Jury president Jeremy Irons said the film showed “the web an authoritarian regime weaves among…

Filipino police surrounded a Shopping centre in Manila after a gunman has taken hostages. The incident happened at the V-Mall in the San Juan area of the Philippine capital. Approximately 30 people are being held by the gunman. San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora told reporters that approximately 30 people are being held by the gunman. He said the exact number of hostages is uncertain and is based on the size of the office. He said the gunman is a disgruntled former security guard who had been removed from his job at the mall. Zamora said the gunman shot one person,…