Author: News Desk

Galveston : A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people. Four of the people aboard were Navy officers, and four were civilians, including a child. Two of the passengers were from a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns, including transport to a Galveston hospital. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker said at least five aboard had died. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Manama : The Political Associations Affairs Office at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments said that a recent statement by several political associations included selective information on public finance reform initiatives, giving a misleading impression of these initiatives and their goals. The ministry added that these initiatives are being discussed within the framework of cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities, emphasising the importance of handling public affairs responsibly and prioritising citizens’ interests at all stages of planning and implementation.

Manama : The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the agreement signed in the Omani capital Muscat on the exchange of prisoners and detainees in the Republic of Yemen, under the auspices of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and mediated by the Sultanate of Oman in cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom considers this agreement a positive step toward alleviating the humanitarian situation and advancing efforts to achieve a comprehensive and peaceful settlement in Yemen. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom of Bahrain’s firm support for all…

San Francisco : A massive outage knocked out power to 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco on Saturday, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said. The power failure left a large swath of the northern part of the city in the dark, beginning with the Richmond and Presidio neighbourhoods and areas around Golden Gate Park in the early afternoon and growing in size. The outage represents roughly one-third of the utility company’s customers in the city. Social media posts and local media reported mass closures of restaurants and shops, darkened streetlights and Christmas decorations. The San Francisco Department of Emergency…

Niigata : Japan completed the last stage to permit the world’s largest nuclear power plant to resume operations with a regional vote on Monday, marking a stage in the country’s return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors shut after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Since then, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 operable reactors, as part of its efforts to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be…

Manama : Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has expanded its codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye, unlocking new routes to Europe via Istanbul and giving passengers access to additional destinations across Europe and Türkiye through Istanbul Airport (IST). Under the expanded code share agreement, Gulf Air passengers can now connect via Istanbul to Budapest, Hungary (BUD); Prague, Czech Republic (PRG); Venice, Italy (VCE); Vienna, Austria (VIE); and Rize, Türkiye (RZV), offering a broader selection of routes and greater flexibility when planning their journeys. As for Turkish Airlines, expanded codeshare agreement…

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ratified and issued Law (43) of 2025 approving the Makkah Al Mukarramah Convention of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Anti- Corruption Law Enforcement Cooperation, following its approval by the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives. The Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Makkah Convention on November 27, 2024. The Prime Minister and ministers, each within their capacity, shall implement the provisions of this law, which shall come into effect on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette.

Manama : Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, hosts this week the second round of the 2025/2026 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship in Sakhir. The region’s biggest and most competitive drag racing series returns with plenty of high-intensity action along BIC’s quarter-mile drag strip from Tuesday to Friday, December 23-26. The meeting follows a thrilling season-opener held last month, which attracted nearly 200 competitors from Bahrain and across the region. The top drag racing teams and drivers will once again be going head-to-head along BIC’s world-class quarter-mile drag strip, part of the NHRA Worldwide Network…

Manama : The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced the launch of Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, marking a significant milestone in the country’s telecommunications landscape. This initiative represents a major step in reinforcing Bahrain’s position as the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to implement Satellite Direct-to-Device services, further strengthening its status as one of the most advanced and best-connected nations globally. The launch of these services follows the completion and publication of the related consultation report, which forms a key pillar of the TRA’s broader strategy to position Bahrain as a global leader…

Manama: The Indian School formally launched the ticket for its much-anticipated Annual CulturalFair presented by Star Vision WLL marking the Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday. The ISBAnnual Cultural Fair – Platinum Jubilee Year 2025 will be held over two days, on 15 and 16 January2026, promising a vibrant showcase of culture, music, and community spirit. Zayani Motors General Manger Rizwan Tariq launched the ticket by handing it over to PlatinumJubilee Fair General Convener R Ramesh. ISB Hon.Chairman Adv. Binu Mannil Varughese, StarVision Events WLL Chairman Sethuraj Kadakkal, Hon. Secretary V. Rajapandian, Principal VRPalaniswamy, Hon. Vice-Chairman & Hon. Member – Sports…