Author: News Desk

Manama: The announcement regarding the appointment of the new ambassador was made in a press release issued by the Union Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. Vinod K Jacob has been appointed as the new Indian ambassador to Bahrain. The appointment follows the completion of the tenure of the current ambassador, Piyush Srivastava. Vinod K Jacob, a 2000 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, is currently serving as the Deputy High Commissioner at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Apart from Sri Lanka, he has also served in Indian Missions in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Geneva. He has also…

Doha : Bahrain Football Association (BFA) Chairman Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa today attended the draw of the 2023 Asian Cup finals which was  conducted in Doha, Qatar. BFA Secetary-General Rashid Al Zubi and National Football Team Assistant Coach Ahmed Isa also attended the draw ceremony. Shaikh Ali lauded the role of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), led by AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, hailing his efforts to promote Asian football. He commended 2023 AFC Cup draw ceremony, which reflects the development work undertaken in support of Asian federations. In a statement, the BFA…

President Sheikh Mohamed arrived in Paris on Thursday evening for high-level talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders arrived for a working dinner reception at the Elysee presidential Palace. They are expected to discuss the long-standing friendship and well-established ties between the two countries, as well as other issues of common concern. State news agency Wam confirmed Sheikh Mohamed’s arrival shortly before 10pm. It said Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron would review the strategic partnership between their nations and explore ways to expand links across all fields. It marks Sheikh Mohamed’s second trip to France in 12 months after he…

The US coastguard has seized $80 million worth of heroin from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, America’s Central Command has said. Wednesday’s seizure of the contraband — about two tonnes in total — was the second by the USCGC Glen Harris this week. The ship was raided as it transited international waters after departing from Chah Bahar in Iran. “Glen Harris also seized $30 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin two days ago from another fishing vessel that departed the same port,” the Central Command said. US authorities impounded 580kg of methamphetamine and 35kg of heroin on May…

London : The World Health Organization said Thursday that the global outbreak of mpox, which initially baffled experts when the smallpox-related disease spread to more than 100 countries last year, is no longer an international emergency, after a dramatic drop in cases in recent months. Last July, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared mpox, also known as monkeypox, to be an “extraordinary” situation that qualified as a global crisis. In doing so, he overruled WHO’s expert committee, which didn’t recommend the emergency designation. He said at a media briefing on Thursday that his expert committee had concluded that the recent…

Dubai : The Housing and Urban Planning Ministry’s new housing finance programme won the Best Innovative Programme Award for year 2023, which is granted by the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) in the Middle East and North Africa region. This award recognizes the ministry’s efforts, in collaboration with Eskan Bank, to provide innovative housing solutions and programmes. The Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Amena bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eskan Bank, said the launch of the finance programme last year in August, was in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin…

Copenhagen : Sweden-based Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) is delaying production of its Volvo EX90 model for more software development and testing, the carmaker said on Thursday. It now expects to start production in the first half of 2024, it said in a statement. Volvo Cars, majority owned by China’s Geely (0175.HK), unveiled its Volvo EX90 model, a fully electric SUV, towards the end of last year. The company previously said it would begin production of the EX90 at the end of 2023.

Manama : Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, presented the Prince Salman bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit to NPRA directors. The presentation of the merit comes per the order of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to all concerned authorities to hand over the merit to medical teams and other concerned organisations. He handed the merit to the Director of Research and Follow Up, Col. Talal Taqi, the…

Manama : Bharanatyam is an Indian classical dance form. The practice of this dance form in Bahrain is very much prevalent. One of the institutions which promote this dance form in Bahrain is the Dynamic Art Center.  Under the tutelage of Nritya KalaRatna Guru Smt. Hansul Gani, this institution regularly sends their pupils for Arangatram, which is a de facto graduation in this art form. It is only when the Guru feels that a student is ready to perform the Arangatram, that he/she is allowed to take the stage.  This year six students will be graduating in a performance which will…

The US is working with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to extend a ceasefire in Sudan and reach a deal on the provision of humanitarian assistance, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Negotiations between the warring sides, the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, began on Sunday in the Saudi city of Jeddah in an effort to end the bloodshed that has killed hundreds and forced many to flee. “Together now, we are pressing the warring parties in Sudan to put down their guns and allow life-saving aid to reach the Sudanese people,” Mr Blinken said on Tuesday, during a joint press conference…