Author: News Desk

BRATISLAVA: Slovakia’s Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his government resigned on Tuesday to ease a political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. It is the first European government to collapse due to its handling of the pandemic but the move will keep the current four-party coalition in power and avoid the possibility of an early election. The coalition holds a comfortably parliamentary majority. President Zuzana Caputova accepted the resignation and asked Eduard Heger from Matovic’s Ordinary People party to form a new government. Heger served as the finance minister and deputy prime minister…

MANAMA: Receiving the vaccine injection against COVID-19 during daylight hours in Ramadhan does not break the fast, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs said. The Council’s statement answers the question asked by some Muslims whether the dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast prohibits them from getting the anti COVID-19 vaccine during the fasting hours. Getting a Covid-19 vaccine is acceptable during Ramadan and the shot does not invalidate the fast because it is injected into the muscle and has no nutritional value, the Council of the religious scholars said during its third session in 2021. The Council called on everyone to take the vaccine to…

MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Tuesday issued Royal Decree 43/2021, appointing Ambassador Khalid Yusuf Al-Jalahma as Head of Bahrain’s Diplomatic Mission to Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain officially normalized relations with Israel at a signing ceremony at the White House in September 2020. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed agreements with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani.

WASHINGTON: German automaker Volkswagen AG’s U.S. unit confirmed Tuesday it will rename its U.S. operations as “Voltswagen of America” as it shifts its focus to electric vehicles. The revised name takes effect in May and the announcement came after several outlets on Monday reported on a draft release mistakenly posted on the automaker’s U.S. website. “We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren’t changing is this brand’s commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Voltswagen of America in a statement. The German automaker has committed…

LOS ANGELES: Athletic shoe maker Nike Inc on Monday sued a New York-based company that produced “Satan Shoes” purported to contain a drop of human blood as part of a collaboration with “Old Town Road” rapper Lil Nas X. Nike said in the lawsuit that the company, MSCHF Product Studio Inc, infringed on and diluted its trademark with the black-and-red, devil-themed shoes, which went on sale online on Monday. Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the suit. The shoes are customized Nike Air Max 97 sneakers that contain red ink and “one drop of human blood”…

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won a nail-biting Bahrain Grand Prix season opener, triumphing over the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in a fantastic duel in the desert that went down to the very last lap of the race, as the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas completed the podium. Starting from the fourth pole position of his career, Verstappen had taken control of the race early on, but lost his advantage when Hamilton was able to undercut the Dutchman into the lead in the first round of pit stops. Following a second stop for both drivers – Verstappen’s coming 10 laps after…

An ice hockey referee has been banned by the NHL after being caught on a microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against one of the teams he was officiating. Tim Peel was wearing a microphone during the Nashville Predators’ win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. After giving a questionable tripping decision against a Predators player, Peel was heard saying, “It wasn’t much, but I wanted to get a penalty against Nashville early” before his microphone was cut off. “There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey…

Prince Harry has joined the corporate world as employee coaching and mental health firm BetterUp Inc.’s Chief Impact Officer. Financial terms of his employment were undisclosed. BetterUp, based in San Francisco, works with employees from companies including Mars, AB InBev and LinkedIn on coaching and mental health services, The Associated Press (AP) reported. BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux said the Duke of Sussex is a good fit for the company because of “his model of inspiration and impact through action.” Robichaux cited Harry’s efforts founding the Invictus Games, which gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete…