Author: News Desk

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, and Chairman of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance Judging Committee. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed presented His Majesty the King with the names of the members of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance Judging Committee. The committee includes prominent intellectual and academic figures from the Kingdom of Bahrain and abroad, who will assess the research and…

Kathmandu : The death toll from floods that struck Nepal’s mountainous border region with China this week has risen to more than 600, with around 2,000 people missing. The United Nations said more than 17,000 children in affected areas require urgent humanitarian assistance. Nepalese Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal said the country requires international assistance in specialised and technical areas, including rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communications where bridges have been destroyed, identifying victims through DNA testing, and preserving bodies for longer periods. He said local teams are able to carry out regular search and rescue operations…

Manama : Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfeeqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, attended the launch of “Al Freej” (Neighbourhood) Festival, organised by the ministry at the Northern Sehla Youth Empowerment Centre in cooperation with Mawrooth Committee. The festival brings together Bahraini heritage, culture, creativity and technology through activities for young people, children and families. The minister toured the festival, which features traditional games, crafts and professions, technology and space activities, arts and theatre, esports and sports activities. It also includes a youth market for young people to showcase their projects and products, a mental health section and participation by productive families. Tawfeeqi…

Athens : Greece has recorded 19 deaths and 232 cases of West Nile virus since the beginning of the year, according to the country’s public health authority. The authority said infections have increased nearly fourfold since the end of July, with most cases reported in the greater Athens area. West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Most infections are asymptomatic, while older people and those with certain health conditions face a higher risk of severe illness. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus.

Berlin : Heatwaves in Germany caused an estimated 15,800 deaths between April 6 and mid August 2026, according to the Robert Koch Institute. Around 9,600 deaths were recorded during the severe heatwave in late June, while nearly 4,000 occurred during the first two weeks of August. The institute said this year’s heat related deaths significantly exceeded figures recorded over the past decade, including around 9,500 in 2018 and 7,600 in 2019. Most deaths were among older people, including around 7,960 aged over 85, 3,900 aged 75 to 84 and 2,440 aged 65 to 74. The estimates are based on mortality…

Kathmandu : The death toll from devastating floods in mountainous areas of Nepal bordering China has risen to more than 469, with hundreds injured and more than 1,500 people reported missing, according to Nepalese police. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors and missing people amid difficult conditions and challenging terrain. Nepalese authorities attributed the disaster to a landslide following an earthquake, which triggered glacial water, mud and rock flows towards the Bhote Koshi River in the Himalayas. The US Geological Survey said the tremors recorded in the area were caused by a glacier collapse rather than seismic activity, which…

Seoul : Artificial intelligence (AI) use in South Korea is 1.7 times the global average, according to Google Korea, citing a report by London based consultancy Public First. The report was based on a survey of 1,057 South Korean adults conducted from April 17 to 30, 2026. The survey found that 40% of respondents with AI skills were favoured in recruitment, while 74% expressed interest in education aimed at improving their AI capabilities. The report also found that training in advanced AI prompting helped employees reduce their working hours by a third compared with using basic prompts.

Manama: The Ministry of Social Development called on civil society organisations that have not convened their general assemblies for two consecutive years to initiate procedures to regularise their status within two weeks, in accordance with the laws and regulations governing civil society organisations in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The ministry urged the organisations concerned to convene their general assemblies and complete the required regulatory and administrative procedures within the deadline. It also called on their boards to contact the relevant department at the ministry for guidance where necessary. The ministry said failure to regularise their status within the deadline may…

Bunia : The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of the growing risk of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo spreading to neighbouring countries, with the Central African Republic considered at highest risk, followed closely by South Sudan, as the outbreak expands towards border areas. Marie Roseline Belizaire, WHO expert, said the Biena and Manguredjipa health zones in North Kivu province have case fatality rates higher than the overall rate, due in part to delayed response efforts. She added that the outbreak recorded 5,794 confirmed cases, including 2,786 deaths, and is spreading faster than efforts to track…

Manama : The Higher Education Council (HEC) launched the new Higher Education and Scientific Research Strategy for 2026-2030. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the HEC Board of Trustees, officials from the HEC General Secretariat and representatives of higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain, were present. The strategy was developed in partnership between the HEC and Times Higher Education (THE), using a methodology that included consultations with relevant government and private sector entities, benchmarking against international best practices and standards, and evidence- and data-based analysis to identify priorities and future directions for Bahrain’s…