Author: News Desk

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…

Manama : The Ministry of Finance and National Economy released the Bahrain Economic Quarterly Report for Q1 2026 on its website www.mofne.gov.bh. The national economy recorded strong performance in January and February 2026, before it was impacted in March 2026 due to the hostile Iranian aggression on the Kingdom. According to the preliminary national accounts data released by the Information & eGovernment Authority, GDP at constant prices contracted by 3.8% YoY in Q1 2026, driven by a 37.2% decline in oil activities, primarily due to the imposed restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which affected export capacity,…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today met with HE Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), at Riffa Palace. His Royal Highness affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, remains steadfast in its support for the continued advancement of the GCC and its joint action, reflecting the Kingdom’s deep-rooted belief in the importance of unity amongst the Gulf states and its commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation among GCC member states. HRH the…

Manama : The Minister of Finance and National Economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, today held a telephone call with the United States Secretary of the Treasury, H.E. Scott Bessent. The two sides discussed the US announcement of the launch of Operation Economic Outcast, and reviewed the close and longstanding partnership between the Kingdom and the United States in confronting threats to regional security and international trade, including coordinated efforts to counter illicit finance and to disrupt the funding of destabilizing activity. The US Secretary of the Treasury expressed appreciation for the role…