The prized piano belonging to late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is to be auctioned “without reserve”, allowing fans across the globe to bid.

Freddie Mercury's grand piano to be auctioned 'without reserve'

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia operated at full capacity Sunday, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Workers removed floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the Grand Mosque, which is built around the Kaaba, the black cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.&nbsp;

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"This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity," reported the official Saudi Press Agency.

Pictures and footage on Sunday morning showed people praying side by side, making straight rows of worshippers that are formations revered in performing Muslim prayers, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold last year.&nbsp;

While social distancing measures were lifted, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.&nbsp;

Also, the Kaaba remained cordoned off and out of reach.

Saudi Arabia announced in August it will begin accepting vaccinated foreigners wanting to make the umrah pilgrimage.&nbsp;

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The umrah can be undertaken at any time and usually draws millions from around the globe, as does the annual hajj, which abled-bodied Muslims who have the means must perform at least once in their lifetime.

In July, only around 60,000 inoculated residents were allowed to take part in a vastly scaled down form of the annual hajj.

The COVID-19 pandemic hugely disrupted both Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom that rake in a combined $12 billion annually.

Hosting the pilgrimages is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy.

The once-reclusive kingdom began issuing tourist visas permitting foreign visitors to undertake more than just the pilgrimages for the first time in 2019 as part of an ambitious push to revamp its global image and diversify income.&nbsp;

Between September 2019 and March 2020, it issued 400,000 of them -- only for the pandemic to crush that momentum as borders were closed.&nbsp;

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But the kingdom is slowly opening up, and has started welcoming vaccinated foreign tourists since August 1.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia also announced that fully-inoculated sports fans will from Sunday be allowed to attend events at all stadiums and other sports facilities, reported SPA.

It has also said that masks in most open spaces are no longer mandatory.

Saudi Arabia has registered over 547,000 coronavirus cases and 8,760 deaths.

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia operated at full capacity Sunday, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia operated at full capacity Sunday, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Workers removed floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the Grand Mosque, which is built around the Kaaba, the black cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray. Also Read | US to allow fully vaccinated travellers from November 8: White House "This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity," reported the official Saudi Press Agency. Pictures and footage on Sunday morning showed people praying side by side, making straight rows of worshippers that are formations revered in performing Muslim prayers, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold last year. While social distancing measures were lifted, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds. Also, the Kaaba remained cordoned off and out of reach. Saudi Arabia announced in August it will begin accepting vaccinated foreigners wanting to make the umrah pilgrimage. Also Read | Moderna, racing for profits, keeps Covid vaccine out of reach of poor The umrah can be undertaken at any time and usually draws millions from around the globe, as does the annual hajj, which abled-bodied Muslims who have the means must perform at least once in their lifetime. In July, only around 60,000 inoculated residents were allowed to take part in a vastly scaled down form of the annual hajj. The COVID-19 pandemic hugely disrupted both Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom that rake in a combined $12 billion annually. Hosting the pilgrimages is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy. The once-reclusive kingdom began issuing tourist visas permitting foreign visitors to undertake more than just the pilgrimages for the first time in 2019 as part of an ambitious push to revamp its global image and diversify income. Between September 2019 and March 2020, it issued 400,000 of them -- only for the pandemic to crush that momentum as borders were closed. Also Read | WHO says global tuberculosis deaths rise due to coronavirus pandemic But the kingdom is slowly opening up, and has started welcoming vaccinated foreign tourists since August 1. Saudi Arabia also announced that fully-inoculated sports fans will from Sunday be allowed to attend events at all stadiums and other sports facilities, reported SPA. It has also said that masks in most open spaces are no longer mandatory. Saudi Arabia has registered over 547,000 coronavirus cases and 8,760 deaths.

Grand Mosque in Mecca drops social distancing

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. 
 
The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. 
 
Singapore&#39;s home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state&#39;s glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. 
 
&quot;This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us,&quot; Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. 
 
&quot;Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant.&quot; 
 
Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. 
 
 
Singapore: target for Islamic State 
 
Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants.&nbsp;However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city&#39;s airport in 2002. 
 
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is &quot;a rational, open, cosmopolitan country&quot;, even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. 
 
The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim&#39;s group or not, this is what we&#39;re investigating now,&quot; police spokesman Agus Rianto said.&nbsp;Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. 
 
In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. 
 
 
Turning Point 
 
Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said &quot;not yet&quot;.&nbsp;Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane&#39;s Defence Weekly said it was possible. 
 
&quot;They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries,&quot; Ripley said. &quot;Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high.&quot; 
 
If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months.&nbsp;Indonesia, home to the world&#39;s largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. 
 
Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence.&nbsp;Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State&#39;s fight in the Middle East. 
 
Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home.&nbsp;However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. 
 
&quot;One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network,&quot; Jones said. 
 
(Reuters)

Rocket attack planned on downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One races are held next to a Ferris wheel and swanky casino: Minister

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. Singapore's home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state's glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. "This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us," Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. "Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant." Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. Singapore: target for Islamic State Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants. However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city's airport in 2002. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is "a rational, open, cosmopolitan country", even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. "There's a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim's group or not, this is what we're investigating now," police spokesman Agus Rianto said. Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. Turning Point Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said "not yet". Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane's Defence Weekly said it was possible. "They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries," Ripley said. "Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high." If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months. Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence. Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State's fight in the Middle East. Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home. However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. "One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network," Jones said. (Reuters)

Singapore on high alert as suspected militant gang arrested

Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula One drivers championship to 19 points after winning the German Grand Prix with ease today, with Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg only fourth. 
 
Rosberg surrendered his lead from pole to the Briton, who stormed away to claim his sixth win in seven races and strengthen his grip in the title chase. 
 
Second was Daniel Ricciardo, with Max Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate, third. 
 
Reigning world champion Hamilton took full advantage of a poor start by Rosberg, who also received a five second pit-stop penalty for an over-aggressive passing move, to deliver a flawless drive. 
 
&ldquo;Get in there, Lewis,&rdquo; said his team engineer over the radio. &ldquo;Great work, mate, a beautiful start and fantastically managed.&rdquo; 
 
The Briton responded: &ldquo;As always, thanks to you all, brilliant pit stops and now have a well-deserved summer break.&rdquo; 
 
For Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph, it ended up as a day of disappointment on home soil. 
 
The home fans at Hockenheim had another German to cheer as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth ahead of his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, who was seventh on home turf for Force India. 
 
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, finished eighth ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India. 
 
&quot;What a race,&quot; Hamilton, who started second on the grid, told the crowd from the podium. &quot;Big thank you to the team, who did an amazing job. &quot;I didn&#39;t make any mistakes. Yesterday was not perfect, but you learn from those things.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

It ended up as a day of disappointment for Nico Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph on home soil

Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula One drivers championship to 19 points after winning the German Grand Prix with ease today, with Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg only fourth. Rosberg surrendered his lead from pole to the Briton, who stormed away to claim his sixth win in seven races and strengthen his grip in the title chase. Second was Daniel Ricciardo, with Max Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate, third. Reigning world champion Hamilton took full advantage of a poor start by Rosberg, who also received a five second pit-stop penalty for an over-aggressive passing move, to deliver a flawless drive. “Get in there, Lewis,” said his team engineer over the radio. “Great work, mate, a beautiful start and fantastically managed.” The Briton responded: “As always, thanks to you all, brilliant pit stops and now have a well-deserved summer break.” For Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph, it ended up as a day of disappointment on home soil. The home fans at Hockenheim had another German to cheer as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth ahead of his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, who was seventh on home turf for Force India. Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, finished eighth ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India. "What a race," Hamilton, who started second on the grid, told the crowd from the podium. "Big thank you to the team, who did an amazing job. "I didn't make any mistakes. Yesterday was not perfect, but you learn from those things." (AFP)

Lewis Hamilton wins German Grand Prix

Serena Williams has history in her sights, as the defending champion plots to avenge one of the most painful defeats of her career by beating Angelique Kerber in Saturday&#39;s Wimbledon final. Williams suffered a stunning loss against Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and the rivals will face off for the first time since then when they slug it out for the Wimbledon title. 
 
There was further frustrations for Serena when she lost the French Open final to Garbine Muguruza last month. But the 34-year-old has been revitalised at the All England Club and, after taking just 48 minutes to crush Elena Vesnina in Wimbledon&#39;s quickest-ever semi-final, she has the chance to finally equal Steffi Graf&#39;s Open era record of 22 major titles by lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for a seventh time. 
 
Making history at Kerber&#39;s&nbsp;expense would be especially sweet, even more so after the fourth seed defeated Serena&#39;s sister Venus in the semi-finals, and Williams says she has learnt the lessons of Australia. &quot;Obviously it&#39;s significant that she beat&nbsp;me in Australia because that&#39;s the last time we played,&quot; Serena said. 
 
&quot;I made a lot of errors. She made little to no unforced errors. I felt like she played great. She was fearless. That&#39;s something I learned. When I go into a final, I too need to be fearless like she was.&nbsp;It was inspiring afterwards to realise there&#39;s a lot of things that I need to improve on.&quot; 
 
Since failing to complete a calendar Grand Slam last year, Serena has repeatedly had her hunger for more success questioned. But, having reached a ninth Wimbledon final and 28th Grand Slam, Williams insists she is still motivated. 
 
&quot;Yeah, I have no hunger anymore. Yeah, right,&quot; Serena said in a defiant press conference after her demolition of Vesnina. &quot;I mean, I think for anyone else in this whole planet, reaching the final would be a wonderful accomplishment. For me, it&#39;s not enough. But I think that&#39;s what makes me different. That&#39;s what makes me Serena. For me, it&#39;s about obviously holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better accomplishment for me.&quot; 
 
In a combative mood with the media, Serena was quick to quash suggestions the pressure of trying to make history had been responsible for her failure to win a Grand Slam since last year&#39;s Wimbledon. 
 
&quot;My goal has never been 22. I don&#39;t talk about that anymore,&quot; she snapped. &quot;I love what I do. I work hard at what I do. I&#39;m extremely passionate. That&#39;s just the kind of something that keeps me going.&quot; Asked where she ranked among the great female athletes, Williams reframed the question. 
 
&quot;I prefer one of the greatest athletes of all time,&quot; she said with not a trace of a smile. Fortunately for fans hoping for a drama-filled final, Kerber isn&#39;t the type to back down in the face of Serena&#39;s aggression. The 28-year-old in her first Wimbledon final and second major title match, couldn&#39;t be&nbsp;in better form as she tries to become the first German woman to win Wimbledon since her idol Graf in 1996. 
 
&quot;I told myself that I would like to play better in the big tournaments. I just believe much more in myself, especially after Australia,&quot; Kerber said. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m a little bit more relaxed when I&#39;m going to the tournaments.&nbsp;I know I can trust my tennis.&quot;&nbsp;After sweeping to the final without dropping&nbsp;a set, Kerber is guaranteed to reach a career-high second in the rankings next week. 
 
&quot;I will go out there with a lot of confidence.&nbsp;I&#39;ll show her I&#39;m there to win. I have to play one of my best matches,&quot; Kerber said. 
The German added: &quot;I expect a really tough match. I know that she will go out and try to beat me, especially because she lost against me in Australia.&nbsp;On grass she is always dangerous. She won here so many times, she will go for it. I know this. I know I have to play my best tennis.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The defending champ can avenge her painful loss in last year's Australian open, and tie her idol Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam wins

Serena Williams has history in her sights, as the defending champion plots to avenge one of the most painful defeats of her career by beating Angelique Kerber in Saturday's Wimbledon final. Williams suffered a stunning loss against Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and the rivals will face off for the first time since then when they slug it out for the Wimbledon title. There was further frustrations for Serena when she lost the French Open final to Garbine Muguruza last month. But the 34-year-old has been revitalised at the All England Club and, after taking just 48 minutes to crush Elena Vesnina in Wimbledon's quickest-ever semi-final, she has the chance to finally equal Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 major titles by lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for a seventh time. Making history at Kerber's expense would be especially sweet, even more so after the fourth seed defeated Serena's sister Venus in the semi-finals, and Williams says she has learnt the lessons of Australia. "Obviously it's significant that she beat me in Australia because that's the last time we played," Serena said. "I made a lot of errors. She made little to no unforced errors. I felt like she played great. She was fearless. That's something I learned. When I go into a final, I too need to be fearless like she was. It was inspiring afterwards to realise there's a lot of things that I need to improve on." Since failing to complete a calendar Grand Slam last year, Serena has repeatedly had her hunger for more success questioned. But, having reached a ninth Wimbledon final and 28th Grand Slam, Williams insists she is still motivated. "Yeah, I have no hunger anymore. Yeah, right," Serena said in a defiant press conference after her demolition of Vesnina. "I mean, I think for anyone else in this whole planet, reaching the final would be a wonderful accomplishment. For me, it's not enough. But I think that's what makes me different. That's what makes me Serena. For me, it's about obviously holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better accomplishment for me." In a combative mood with the media, Serena was quick to quash suggestions the pressure of trying to make history had been responsible for her failure to win a Grand Slam since last year's Wimbledon. "My goal has never been 22. I don't talk about that anymore," she snapped. "I love what I do. I work hard at what I do. I'm extremely passionate. That's just the kind of something that keeps me going." Asked where she ranked among the great female athletes, Williams reframed the question. "I prefer one of the greatest athletes of all time," she said with not a trace of a smile. Fortunately for fans hoping for a drama-filled final, Kerber isn't the type to back down in the face of Serena's aggression. The 28-year-old in her first Wimbledon final and second major title match, couldn't be in better form as she tries to become the first German woman to win Wimbledon since her idol Graf in 1996. "I told myself that I would like to play better in the big tournaments. I just believe much more in myself, especially after Australia," Kerber said. "I'm a little bit more relaxed when I'm going to the tournaments. I know I can trust my tennis." After sweeping to the final without dropping a set, Kerber is guaranteed to reach a career-high second in the rankings next week. "I will go out there with a lot of confidence. I'll show her I'm there to win. I have to play one of my best matches," Kerber said. The German added: "I expect a really tough match. I know that she will go out and try to beat me, especially because she lost against me in Australia. On grass she is always dangerous. She won here so many times, she will go for it. I know this. I know I have to play my best tennis." (AFP)

Serena Williams can make history by beating Kerber in Saturday's Wimbledon finals

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