Author: News Desk

Kuala Lumpur : Defending champions Japan will begin their bid to defend their AFC Futsal Asian Cup  title in Group H of the 2024 Qualifiers while Islamic Republic of Iran’s aim for a 13th crown will start in Group C. A total 31 teams were drawn into eight groups with the eight group winners and seven best second-placed teams among all groups qualifying for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024. These 15 teams will join the Host Member Association (MA), to be determined at a later stage and who will receive automatic qualification, to form the final cast at the…

At least 41 women were killed in a riot at a women’s prison in Honduras on Tuesday – with most burnt to death. President Xiomara Castro blamed the violence on “mara” street gangs that often wield power inside prisons. Twenty-six of the victims were burnt to death while the remainder were shot or stabbed at the prison in Tamara, about 50km north-west of the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, said national police investigation agency spokesman Yuri Mora. Relatives awaiting news about inmates gathered outside the morgue in Tegucigalpa. They confirmed that inmates in the prison had told them they lived in fear of the Barrio…

Hong Kong : Hong Kong Premier League runners-up Lee Man will host Vietnam’s Haiphong in the preliminary rounds of the Asian Champions League on Aug. 15 as the continental club championship makes its fully-fledged return after three COVID-disrupted seasons. The meeting between the pair will be the first of 13 preliminary and qualifying round matches ahead of the group phase draw on Aug. 28. Travel restrictions during the pandemic had a major impact on the competition and saw the usual home-and-away format scrapped in 2020 in favour of matches being played in centralised bio-secure hubs. The 2022 final, in which…

Manama : A batch of Royal Guard cadet officers graduated during a ceremony which was held today. National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander Lieutenant-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa patronized the event, in the presence of Royal Guard Special Force Commander Staff Colonel HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The graduation ceremony was also attended by Royal Guard Deputy Commander Major-General Hamad Khalifa Alnoaimi and other officers. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad commended the devotion of the graduates to serve the nation, paying tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander…

Manama : AI Global Group and GEC Media Group in UAE are organising the second WORLD CIO200 Summit on July 20, which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. The summit will include dialogue sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, and will host specialised speakers in technology, finance, banking, cyber security, and other related disciplines. Dr. Jassim Haji, President of the International Group of…

Rabat : Information Minister Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Alnoaimi today participated in the 53rd regular session of the Arab Information Ministers Council, being held in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco. Addressing the session, the minister said that the Kingdom of Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, backs all efforts to develop pan-Arab action, out of keenness on the importance of Arab solidarity to protect the security of the Arab countries  and peoples. He called for a comprehensive Arab…

Philippines: Delfina Guiwan’s heart was pounding as she snuck back to her village, now abandoned and eerily quiet, in the fertile foothills of the gently erupting Mayon volcano in the north- eastern Philippines. When patrolling police spotted her, they warned that the village is off-limits because of the danger of a violent eruption at any time. Ms Guiwan, 47, said she knew the risks but begged to stay a few minutes more to get her daughter’s school uniform from their shack and feed her pigs. Entry is prohibited, but thousands of poor villagers have flouted the restrictions and made it their home for…

India : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a four-day visit to the US to “enrich the depth and diversity” of the bilateral partnership. Mr Modi is making his first state visit at the invitation of President Joe Biden and first lady, Jill Biden, though he has visited six times since becoming India’s premier in 2014. “President Biden and I have had the opportunity to meet several times since my last official visit to the US in September 2021,” he said before making the journey. “This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership. “I…

Rabat : Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al-Noaimi, has participated in the 17th regular session of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, held here today. Members of the Executive Bureau, including the information ministers of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, the Comoros, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Morocco, participated in the meeting. The kingdom participated in the meeting because it will host the 2024 Arab Summit. The Information Minister stressed the importance of the topics discussed during the 17th session of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, within the framework of its…

 Manama : Director-General of General Resources and Information Systems of Customs Affairs Shaikh Turki bin Duaj Al Khalifa attended a graduation ceremony for the Qarar (decision) programme of the Customs Training Institute in cooperation with the University of Bahrain. The programme aimed to enhance the leadership skills of decision-makers in Customs Affairs.  Deputy Health of Community Services of the University of Bahrain, Dr Mohammed Al Ansari, attended.  Director-General praised the instructions of Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa to promote human resources development and follow-up of the President of Customs, Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He said that the…