Author: News Desk

Paris : Parisians rushed for a dip in the Seine on Saturday as authorities opened the river to public swimming for the first time since 1923 after an extensive clean-up operation spurred on by it being used last year as a venue in the Paris Olympics. Three sites along the banks of the Seine in the city will be able to welcome over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31, local officials said, to the delight of the Parisians and visitors who were among the first to take the plunge. The reopening of the Seine for public swimming follows efforts by…

Rome : 21 people, including eight police officers and a firefighter, were injured in an explosion at a fuel station and depot in the Prenestina area of the Italian capital, Rome.The explosion, which was followed by a fire, caused a blast that was heard in several districts of the city, while authorities have not yet announced the reasons behind the incident.The public transport authority closed the nearby “Teano” metro station as a precaution, based on police instructions.Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that firefighting teams are currently working at the scene to control the fire and prevent it from spreading…

Berlin : Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari driver, topped the first practice session for the British Grand Prix in the Formula 1 World Championship, ahead of his compatriot Lando Norris of McLaren. Hamilton set a time of 1:26.892, narrowly beating Norris by 0.023 seconds, while Australia’s Oscar Piastri, the current leader of the drivers’ standings, finished third. Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was fourth, while World Champion Max Verstappen came tenth after a collision in the previous race. It is worth noting that Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, has not been on the podium since joining Ferrari, with his best result…

Athens : A wildfire whipped by gale-force winds burned through the night and into Greece’s southern island of Crete, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from homes and hotels. The fire department said 230 firefighters backed up by 10 water-dropping aircraft were battling the flames. Two people were evacuated by boat overnight, while six private boats were on standby in case further evacuations by sea became necessary. Homes were reported damaged as flames swept through hillside forests.

Indonesia : Rescuers were searching for 30 people who were missing after a ferry sank, and four people died the previous night near Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. As of Thursday afternoon, 31 people had been rescued from the ferry’s 53 passengers and 12 crew members, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. A helicopter and 15 boats searched for survivors with assistance from fishermen and people onshore. Indonesian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident as survivors told rescuers there appeared to be a leak in the engine room of the ferry, which was carrying…

Manama : The Central Bank of Bahrain announced a strong wave of financial institution licences from early 2024 to mid-2025, with 16 new institutions approved and 52 licence applications under advanced review. This steady growth highlights Bahrain’s appeal as a leading destination for digital financial services, with international applications making up about 75% of the 68 total. These institutions are expected to create over 850 jobs initially, with more opportunities as they expand. The new licences include two wholesale banks, and more banking applications are under review. The Central Bank continues to work closely with applicants to help them meet…

Manama : His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, emphasised that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa places great importance on youth, consistently directing efforts to empower young people and provide opportunities that enable them to shape the future. His Majesty also emphasises instilling values and principles, and encouraging a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth. On the occasion of Arab Youth Day, observed annually on July 5, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad noted that His Majesty’s forward-looking vision for youth was powerfully captured in the…

Jeddah, : His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The meeting reviewed means to develop and enhance bilateral cooperation across various domains.

Manama : The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and ARRAY Innovation, a local portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, have signed a partnership agreement to accelerate its digital transformation initiatives. The partnership agreement was signed in the presence of Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the CBB, and Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat, on the sidelines of the FS Horizons: Doubling Down on Digital event, hosted in collaboration with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB). As part of the agreement, ARRAY Innovation will provide strategic advisory and professional services to the CBB to develop and execute key technology…

Abu Dhabi : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at His Majesty’s residence in Abu Dhabi as part of HM’s visit to the UAE. HM the King and HH the President of the UAE held cordial discussions that reflected the deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the strong ties uniting their peoples. Discussions focused on the close cooperation and joint work between the two countries, as well as means to further advance…