Author: News Desk

Wellington : Thousands of residents in New Zealand have been ordered to evacuate their homes as the country’s North Island prepares for Cyclone Vaianu, which authorities warned could cause coastal flooding and landslides. New Zealand’s meteorological service said the cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall and winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour, making landfall on Sunday before passing west of the remote Chatham Islands on Monday. A state of emergency was declared in several areas on Saturday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of parts of Whakatāne, a city with a population of around 37,150 located about 430…

Djibouti : Ismail Omar Guelleh was re-elected President of the Republic of Djibouti after winning the April 10 presidential election with nearly 98% of the vote. Guelleh secured 97.81% of the vote, compared with 2.19% for his opponent Mohamed Farah Samatar. Voter turnout reached 80.4% of registered voters.

Doha :   His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, held talks with Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, on regional and international developments during a meeting at Lusail Palace. Both sides welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasising its importance in de-escalating tensions and enhancing regional stability. Both sides underscored the need for joint efforts with international parties to consolidate and build on the agreement, leading to a lasting peace accord that guarantees regional security, the stability of…

London : The European Union (EU) and the United States are nearing an agreement to coordinate on the production and supply of critical minerals. According to the report, the potential deal may include incentives such as minimum price guarantees under what was described as a joint “action plan”. The report added that both sides will also enhance cooperation on standards, investments, and joint projects, in addition to improving coordination to address potential supply disruptions. It also noted that the agreement, based on a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will cover the full value chain of critical minerals, from exploration and…

Houston : The four Artemis II astronauts, returning from the world’s first crewed moon voyage in over half a century, hurtled back toward Earth on ​Friday aboard their gumdrop-shaped Orion spacecraft, headed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. The finale to NASA’s celebrated 10-day mission was expected ‌to begin with separation of Orion’s crew capsule from its service module, followed by a fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere and a six-minute radio blackout before the capsule parachutes into the sea. If all goes well, U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut…

Kuwait : The Ministry of Interior of the State of Kuwait announced that explosive ordnance disposal teams responded to nine field reports over the past 24 hours related to falling shrapnel and foreign objects. Brigadier General Nasser Bouslaib, spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, said the total number of reports has reached 802 since the beginning of the attacks. He confirmed that all reports were dealt with swiftly and efficiently.

Manama :   His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, issued Royal Order (10) of 2026 appointing a member to the Supreme Defence Council. Article (I)Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Guard’s Special Force, is appointed as a member of the Supreme Defence Council. Article (II)The order shall take effect from the date of its issuance and be published in the Official Gazette.

Manama : Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, visited Bahrain International Airport to review readiness and the resumption of flights, including the departure of the first Gulf Air flight following the reopening of airspace. The Transportation Minister said the resumption of air traffic reflects the efforts of Team Bahrain in the civil aviation sector to ensure continuity of air transport and the gradual return of operations to normal, in line with international standards and passenger expectations. The visit followed the temporary suspension of airspace as a precautionary measure in response to the Iranian attacks.…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today received the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, following the Prime Minister’s arrival in the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the visit, the UK Prime Minister is due to meet with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Discussions will focus on the deep-rooted historical relations between the two countries, as well as recent developments in the region and…

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received His Excellency Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The visit comes as part of a regional tour to hold consultations to ensure the uninterrupted opening of the Strait of Hormuz following the ceasefire agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. His Majesty welcomed HE the UK Prime Minister, noting that the visit reflects support for…