Author: News Desk

Microsoft is chasing a deal to buy all of TikTok’s global business, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing five people with knowledge of the talks. However, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Microsoft had not raised the prospect of buying all of TikTok in its negotiations with ByteDance. Microsoft had said it was seeking to buy the assets of TikTok in North America, Australia and New Zealand. It had not disclosed how much it was willing to pay, though sources previously told that ByteDance executives value all of TikTok at more than $50 billion. ♦ Facebook launches…

Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos sold shares worth $3.1 billion in the e-commerce company in recent days, regulatory filings showed on Wednesday. The stock sale comes at a time when the company’s shares have surged more than 73% this year. During the first two working days of August, Bezos sold 1 million shares as part of a previously announced trading plan, according to the filings. Bezos, the world’s richest man, had said he planned to sell stock worth about $1 billion each year to fund his rocket company, Blue Origin. The latest share sale leaves him with 54.5 million shares…

Odisha observed a one-minute silent prayer at 6 pm on Wednesday to pay tributes to the COVID warriors. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led a silent prayer followed by an oath-taking ceremony to honour and commemorate the supreme sacrifice of COVID warriors. The CM addressed Odias around the world through a webinar and expressed his gratitude for the frontline warriors. He said: “This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of thousands of COVID warriors who are working around the clock. They have made huge sacrifices to keep the rest of us safe. Some have also sacrificed their…

China gave tech giant Tencent Holdings the green light on Thursday to publish Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure and shooter game Call of Duty Mobile, strengthening the country’s biggest social media and video games company. The approval published by China’s National Press and Publication Administration on its website comes as game developers reap higher revenue while the novel coronavirus puts a dent in other entertainment options. Game publishers in China need to have a license from content regulators so they can make money from the sale of virtual products in games such as weapons or avatars. Tencent started selling the…

Etihad Airways has provided details of its half-year 2020 performance, which saw a strong start to the year, with the airline progressing well ahead of its transformation plan targets. In a statement by the airline on Thursday, Core operating loss for this period increased by US$172 million to US$758 million, driven by a 38 percent drop in revenues, which stood at US$1.7 billion. This was partially off-set by a 27 percent reduction in direct operating costs to US$1.9 billion, and a 21 percent reduction in general and administrative expenses to $0.40 billion, both driven by management cost containment initiatives and…

Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has stressed that the resumption of sports activities, in general, and the Nasser bin Hamad Football Premier League, in particular, indicates that life in Bahrain is back to normal gradually. On the occasion, HH Shaikh Nasser stressed the importance of implementing the decisions of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to allow the resumption of sports activities without spectators. ♦ Bahrain…

Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) announced the reopening of its office at the Muharraq Security Complex on Sunday, August 9 from 8 am to 2 pm to provide the residency sticker service only. Only clients with appointments booked through Skiplino app would be allowed, in line with the precautionary measures against coronavirus in place, and in order to ensure social distancing. The NPRA urged the clients to wear masks during the processing of their applications.

The Bahrain Tennis Club announced it would resume its activities on Thursday (August 6). “Doors will be reopened to BTC club members who book in advance to use the tennis courts”, it said  in a statement, stressing the necessity of complying with the mandary precautionary measures for combating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). BTC Chairman Khamis Mohammed Al-Muqla thanked all members for their cooperation and full commitment to the preventive protocols for the safety of all.

The Bahrain health ministry introduces the “Hug curtain” program for frontline workers at healthcare to meet and greet their families on Eid Al Adha. Health care workers were experienced an amazing and exciting moment by meeting their loved ones in a unique way on Eid Al Adha with hug curtains. Healthcare workers who are striving hard to protect their family and friends by maintaining social distancing. https://youtu.be/B8OoF3YwESQ A heart-touching moment has seen at the hospitals on Eid day where families of medical staff were surprised by seeing their loved ones who visited to exchange Eid wishes and became emotionally excited…

Facebook rolled out its own version of social media rival TikTok in the United States and more than 50 other countries on Wednesday, embedding a new short-form video service called Reels as a feature within its popular Instagram app. The debut comes days after Microsoft said it was in talks to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations from China’s ByteDance. ByteDance has agreed to divest parts of TikTok, sources have said, under pressure from the White House which has threatened to ban it and other Chinese-owned apps over data security concerns. The launch of Reels escalates a bruising fight between Facebook and…