Author: News Desk

Singapore : An oil spill off southern Singapore has spread to other areas of the island’s coast and is threatening a marine reserve, government agencies said, adding that authorities were intensifying efforts to mop up the fuel. The oil spilled into Singaporean waters after a Netherlands-flagged dredger struck a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel on Friday afternoon in the southern port of Pasir Panjang. Authorities had said the vessel was no longer leaking oil, but added in a statement late on Saturday that “due to the tidal current, the treated oil has landed along shorelines including Sentosa, Labrador Nature Reserve, Southern…

Beijing : The National Meteorological Centre of China issued a heatwave warning today as several regions across the country experience extreme heat, while many southern provinces issued severe flood warnings due to heavy rainfall. The centre reported that the intense heat in northern China and regions between the Yellow River and Huai River is expected to subside. However, parts of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Henan are forecasted to experience high temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius today. Heavy rain has been battering Fujian Province in the southeast for seven days and is expected to continue, causing some rivers…

Arafat : The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released the official figures for the Hajj season 1445 AH. According to the authority, a total of 1,833,164 pilgrims performed Hajj this year, of whom 1,611,310 were from outside the Kingdom. Domestic pilgrims, both citizens and residents, numbered 221,854. The number of men pilgrims this year reached 958,137, while women pilgrims totaled 875,027. A breakdown of international pilgrims shows that 22.3% came from Arab countries, 63.3%, the largest group, from Asian non-Arab countries, 11.3% from African non-Arab countries, and 3.2% from Europe, America, Australia, and other unclassified regions. The vast majority…

Manama : Worshippers, citizens and residents, performed Eid Al Adha prayers today, Sunday, in Eid prayer halls and mosques in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). Mosques’ minarets raised Takbeers amid feelings of joy. Eid sermons emphasised the values of brotherhood, affection, and compassion during Eid al-Adha. They called for devotion to Islamic principles, spreading love and peace, and strengthening social ties. The preachers prayed to Allah Almighty to protect His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and to continue to…

London : Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, waved to crowds and smiled broadly from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after watching a military parade on Saturday, making her first public appearance this year as she undergoes cancer treatment. The princess, 42, spent two weeks in hospital in January after she underwent major abdominal surgery. Two months later she announced in a video message that tests had revealed the presence of cancer and she was receiving preventative chemotherapy. She is still undergoing treatment, but her improved health meant she was able to appear in public for the first time since December.…

Arafat : At sunset today, the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims started descending to Muzdalifah in an orderly manner amidst a set of health and preventive measures and integrated services prepared by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. These preparations ensured that pilgrims could perform their rituals in peace and security after being blessed by Allah the Almighty to attend the Day of Arafat and perform the greatest pillar of Hajj . Upon their arrival in Muzdalifah, the pilgrims performed the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined, following the Sunnah of the Prophet—peace be upon him. They will…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today performed Eid Al-Adha prayers at Al Sakhir Palace Mosque. The sons of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, senior members of the Royal Family, ministers, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, a number of ambassadors, senior officers from the Bahrain Defence Force, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, Bahraini families, and senior officials, in addition to other worshippers also performed the prayers at Al Sakhir Palace Mosque. The Chairman of the Sunni Endowments Council, Dr Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al…

New York : A senior United Nations official warned today that food supplies to southern Gaza are at risk due to Israel’s expanded military operations. He also highlighted a public health crisis among those displaced by the Israeli offensive. Carl Skau, the Deputy Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), stated that the situation in southern Gaza is deteriorating, despite an existing hunger crisis in the northern part of the region over the past months. The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border had been the main supply route for aid during the ongoing eight-month conflict. However, operations at…

Manama : Five thousand mangrove trees will be planted by the national afforestation campaign “Forever Green” in Halat Umm Al Baydh, backed by a contribution from First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, welcomed the launch of the planting initiative in Halat Umm Al Baydh and underscored the private sector’s support of the afforestation campaign. The minister said the initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2060, as outlined in the National Energy Strategy, announced by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the…