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Austria wins Olympic gold in men’s ski jumping

China’s veteran free skier Xu Mengtao, a four-time Olympian and the runner-up at Sochi 2014, fulfilled her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s aerials here on Monday evening…reports Asian Lite News

Austria beat Slovenia to take the ski jumping men’s team gold at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Chongli, on Monday. The Austrian team, comprised of Stefan Kraft, Daniel Huber, Jan Horl and Manuel Fettner, scored 942.7 points to win the gold.

Slovenia, the leader after the first round, took the silver with 934.4 points and the bronze went to PyeongChang silver medallist Germany with 922.9 points.

Xu wins women’s aerials gold

China’s veteran free skier Xu Mengtao, a four-time Olympian and the runner-up at Sochi 2014, fulfilled her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s aerials here on Monday evening.

This is the first Olympic gold from the women’s aerials for China. After Han Xiaopeng was crowned in the men’s aerials at Turin 2006, China, one of the powerhouses in the free ski aerials, has been waiting for 16 years to win its second Olympic gold from the discipline, reports Xinhua.

Furthermore, it is also the fifth gold medal for China at Beijing 2022, equaling the record number of gold won by China in a single Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010.

Xu, 31, scored the winning mark of 108.61 points for her world top-notch trick of back-full-full-full which boasts of the difficulty degree of 4.293. PyeongChang 2018 champion Hanna Huskova from Belarus, 29, collected 107.95 points on her trick with the difficulty degree of 4.028 to settle for the silver.

The bronze medal went to American Megan Nick, 25, who completed her trick with the difficulty degree of 3.525 for 93.76 points in her Olympic debut.

ALSO READ-Arif completes 45th in giant slalom at Beijing 2022

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-Top News COVID-19

110 British nationals denied entry to Austria due to Covid-19 rules

The same rules also apply to teenagers born before September 1, 2006, who reach Austria from the UK or any other country that is currently part of the virus variant list…reports Asian Lite News.

The Austrian Innsbruck Airport has denied entry to 110 nationals of the United Kingdom as they failed to meet the new travel rules imposed by the Austrian authorities on Saturday.

Previously, the authorities of Austria announced that the UK would be categorised as a virus variant area, thus, requiring everyone to undergo testing prior to their arrival.

The initial announcement said that the test would be accepted as long as it has been taken within 72 hours before entry.

Nonetheless, under the new rules that entered into force on December 25, it was explained that everyone must present a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours before arrival.

Since many travellers were unaware of the new changes in the testing requirement, the airport had to refuse entry to them.

According to the BBC, 70 UK nationals who reached Austria without valid testing proof were flown home immediately. On the other hand, 40 of them were quarantined in a hotel. Of them, 12 were permitted to undergo COVID-19 testing and continue with their holidays.

It is believed that those who were permitted to enter Austria after getting tested were all families with children, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Based on the current rules that Austria has, except for the testing requirement, all travellers from the UK must also prove that they have been fully immunised against the COVID-19 disease. In addition, everyone must have received a booster shot in order to be permitted entry to Austrian territory.

“People who are fully vaccinated (double jabbed) AND have received the 3rd booster jab can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 48 hours). Children under the age of 12 are exempt,” the statement of Austria’s official travel website reads.

The same rules also apply to teenagers born before September 1, 2006, who reach Austria from the UK or any other country that is currently part of the virus variant list.

Omicron

Apart from Austria, several other European Union countries have also tightened their entry rules for travellers from the UK as the latter has been registering increased Omicron variant infection rates.

Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that UK nationals are now subject to additional measures when entering Germany. Travellers from the UK need to provide a valid vaccination or recovery certificate as well as a negative test result that was taken before arrival in Germany.

The French authorities also announced that all non-essential travel from the UK is banned. Only persons who are reaching France for absolutely necessary reasons are permitted entry.

ALSO READ-Omicron rewrites world records

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OPEC marks 5th anniversary of landmark ‘Vienna Agreement’

OPEC marks 5th anniversary of landmark ‘Vienna Agreement’

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Tuesday marked the 5th anniversary of the historic ‘Vienna Agreement’ reached at the 171st Meeting of the OPEC Conference held on 30 November 2016 in Vienna, Austria…reports Asian Lite News

The milestone meeting built on the successful ‘Algiers Accord’, reached in Algiers, Algeria, on 28 September 2016 at the 170th (Extraordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference and paved the way for the historic Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) between OPEC Member Countries and leading non-OPEC oil producing nations to work together in the interest of sustainable oil market stability.

OPEC marks 5th anniversary of landmark ‘Vienna Agreement’

The Conference saw OPEC Member Countries reinforce their joint efforts to overcome a then-unprecedented oil market downturn, reduce inventory overhang, particularly in the OECD region, and revive the necessary investment to support energy security and market stability in the short, medium and long terms.

In recalling the momentous meeting, OPEC Secretary General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, stated: “The volatility seen in the oil market in 2016 was unprecedented for many; however, there was a strong consensus that the way forward requires collaboration, leadership and extensive diplomacy – some of the key characteristics that have underpinned the Organisation’s work since its founding 61 years ago.

“The ‘Vienna Agreement’ constitutes an historic moment in the history of the oil industry, as well as in international cooperation and multilateralism, as it led to the institutionalization of a global framework that not only helped the oil industry immediately, but also years later when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020 and caused a severe oil market contraction.”

Five years ago, on the last day of November, OPEC Members called on non-OPEC oil-producing nations to join an initiative to cooperate on a regular basis to support oil market stability, highlighting the key role that non-OPEC producers can play in achieving this all-important objective. They additionally adopted oil production adjustments and established a high-level ministerial monitoring committee to review the implementation of these decisions.

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These efforts were carried out to help restore stability in the global oil market for the benefit of all producers, consumers and investors, as well as the global economy. They additionally underpinned the Organization’s views on the importance of multilateralism, international cooperation and dialogue.

Categories
-Top News COVID-19 EU News

Austria first European country to reimpose full lockdown

A citizen wearing a face mask walks on a street in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

Austria has also made vaccination mandatory from February 1, reports Asian Lite News

Barely a week after imposing a lockdown on the unvaccinated, Austria on Friday announced a full national Covid-19 lockdown starting next week.

Austria became the first country in the European Union to take such a measure in the face of the Covid-19 resurgence. Besides, it has also made vaccination mandatory from February 1, Euronews reported.

The new measures announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg on Friday morning will come into effect initially for 10 days starting Monday. Most stores will close, and cultural events will be cancelled.

“We have to look reality in the face,” Schallenberg was quoted as saying at a news conference.

“We do not want a fifth wave. Nor do we want a sixth or seventh wave,” the Chancellor said, as reported by public broadcaster ORF.

After 10 days, the effects will be assessed and if Covid cases don’t drop sufficiently, the lockdown can be extended to a maximum of 20 days.

Austria
People wearing face masks walk on a street in Vienna, Austria

However, according to Austria’s Health Minister, schools would remain open for those who need to go there, but all parents have been asked to keep their children at home if possible.

The lockdown comes as Covid infections soared in Austria in recent weeks. Daily case numbers have trebled in November, touching over 15,000 on Thursday.

According to the latest figures, the incidence rate was 990.7 cases per 100,000 people in the past week, and Health Minister Wolfgang Mackstein said imposing a lockdown was the “last resort”.

The country’s per capita infection rate is also the highest so far this year. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with many new Covid patients, and deaths have been rising again, the report said.

Last Monday, Vienna had announced a nationwide lockdown for about two million unvaccinated people. Under this, people aged 12 years and older were banned from going outside except for essential activities such as work, attending classes, essential shopping, or going for a walk.

A medical staff member collects a swab sample at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing center in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua/IANS)

The country has 65 per cent people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned that as Covid cases continue to mount in Europe and Central Asia, the regions are likely to see about 500,000 additional deaths before February 1.

Hans Kluge, WHO’s European Regional Director, attributed the increased risk to low mask use, vaccine hesitancy and spread of the more transmissible Delta variant.

Many other European countries are also planning to reimpose restrictions in the wake of a steep rise in the number of cases, the BBC reported.

Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger has announced what he called a lockdown for the unvaccinated starting Monday. The country had reported a record 8,342 cases on Wednesday.

The Czech government is also limiting access to a variety of services.

The Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown last weekend. German leaders have also agreed to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in areas with high Covid hospital admissions that would affect 12 of Germany’s 16 states, the report said.

Daily infections had hit a new German record of 52,826 on Wednesday.