Author: News Desk

Chief Executive Officer of the National Communication Centre (NCC), Yousif Al-Binkhali, had lauded the keynote address made by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, marking the World Press Freedom Day. Al-Binkhali asserted that the royal address carries a message of appreciation and gratitude to the press personnel for their enlightening, awareness-raising and creative role. He highlighted HM the King’s keenness to provide all constitutional and legal guarantees for the press, being an integral part of the comprehensive development march, noting that the Bahraini democracy has protected the press sector through putting in place the necessary guarantors that enable…

Five Indian states will declare results on Sunday from local elections held in March and early April, at the start of a surge in COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed the country and its healthcare system. The election results are seen as an early test of the impact the devastating second wave of the pandemic is having on support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing BJP party. Counting of votes in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will begin on Sunday morning. Over 1,000 count observers will conduct the process with everyone expected to produce a negative…

Olympia Dukakis, who won an Oscar for her performance as a sardonic, middle-aged mother who advises her headstrong daughter on matters of love in the 1987 romantic film comedy “Moonstruck,” died on Saturday at age 89. Dukakis – a cousin of unsuccessful 1988 Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Michael Dukakis – passed away at her New York City home on Saturday morning after months of failing health, said her agent, Allison Levy. Her daughter, Christina Zorich, was by her side. The Massachusetts-born daughter of Greek immigrants, Dukakis worked for decades as a stage, TV and film actor before rocketing to fame…

A special-issue Dubai car plate number AA9 was sold for a record Dh38 million during the ‘Most Noble Numbers’ charity auction, which raised a total of Dh48.49 million on Saturday in Dubai for the UAE’s ‘100 Million Meals’ Ramadan campaign. The buyer of the AA9 plate at the auction, who did not want to be named, said: “I just want to say a big thank you to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai], for giving us this chance to be part of this charity programme.” Saturday’s…

Bahrain registered over 74,000 face mask violations until April 29, according to the Police Directorates in Governorates. The police directorates highlighted the importance to follow the procedures and instructions of the National Medical Team to fight COVID-19 by changing some social practices during Ramadan, especially with the rapid increase in infected cases. They also affirmed the importance of individuals to promote national efforts by staying at home, wearing masks and keeping the social distance. The Interior Ministry’s various directorates also continue with law enforcement campaigns to stop violations of precautionary measures against COVID-19. The directorates continue to organised awareness campaigns…

Infectious Disease Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Dr. Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, highlighted Bahrain’s continued efforts in combating the COVID-19, adding that monitoring of epidemiological data continues to inform decision making, with the aim of safeguarding the health of all. Dr. Al Qahtani noted that since January 2021, vaccinated individuals account for only 2% of COVID-19 cases from 80,000 of active cases traced. Dr. Al Qahtani further noted that vaccinations support national mitigation efforts, as they reduce transmission rates and prevent the spread of infection. Dr.…

Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has operated two cargo-only flights, delivering 300,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine from China and 100,000 doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia. “Gulf Air continues to support vaccine shipments to Bahrain, alongside supporting wider viral mitigation efforts, and delivering vital food and medical supplies,” the company said in a statement. “Gulf Air continues to work closely with government authorities across its network to resume operations as demand for travel grows, adapting to evolving precautionary guidelines, which are made available at gulfair.com/covid-19.”

Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today held a telephone call with His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan. HM the King offered condolences and consolation over the passing of the late HRH Prince Mohammed bin Talal, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the soul of the deceased in eternal peace, and to bless the Jordanian Monarch, the Hashemite Family and the Jordanian people with patience.

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces Deputy Supreme Commander,His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed AlNahyan, receices Saudi Foreign Minister His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdulla. UAE News Agency (WAM) said that the two sides had discussed bilateral relations, strategic cooperation and joint coordination across various fields,in addition to latest developments in the Arabian Gulf Region and Middle East.

Portimao: Max Verstappen topped the final practice session for the Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix and seems capable of denying Lewis Hamilton a 100th career pole position later Saturday. Red Bull’s Verspappen clocked 1 minute 18.489 seconds around the 4.684-kilometre Autodromo Internacional do Algarve to be .0236 of a second quicker than the world champion Hamilton of Mercedes. Valtteri Bottas was third in the second Red Bull and Sergio Perez fourth in the other Red Bull, dpa reports. Bottas and Hamilton had the first two practice sessions Friday, and qualifying as well as Sunday’s race are expected to feature another duel of the…