Author: News Desk

Kuwait Municipality has shut down 46 shops during Eid Al-Adha for violating the precautionary health guidelines. Around 1,142 warnings were handed out amid inspection visits to 1,197 shops, the Municipality said in a statement. These inspectional rounds aimed to fend off street vendors, unlicensed butchers, livestock outlets and those found in breach of precautionary health measures. ♦ Kuwait bans flights to multiple countries to curb the spread of COVID-19 ♦ Kuwait crown prince receives reassuring call on HH Emir’s health ♦ Kuwait to reduce fees of private schools by 25 percent They resulted in 206 fines being released, for businesses found not adhering to…

Former Pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff in 600 years to resign instead of ruling for life, is seriously ill, a German newspaper reported on Monday. The newspaper, Passauer Neue Presse, cited Benedict’s biographer, German author Peter Seewald, who met the 93-year-old emeritus pope at the Vatican on Saturday. A Vatican spokesperson had no comment on the report and the former pope’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, did not immediately return a call asking for comment. Seewald said Benedict, who has been in frail health for some time, was now suffering from shingles, a viral infection that causes painful rashes…

Singapore researchers have developed “electronic skin” capable of recreating a sense of touch, an innovation they hope will allow people with prosthetic limbs to detect objects, as well as feel texture, or even temperature and pain. The device, dubbed ACES, or Asynchronous Coded Electronic Skin, is made up of 100 small sensors and is about 1 sq cm (0.16 square inch) in size. The researchers at the National University of Singapore say it can process information faster than the human nervous system, is able to recognise 20 to 30 different textures and can read Braille letters with more than 90%…

Zoom Video Communications will shift to a partner-only model in mainland China from Aug. 23, suspending direct sales to all customers in the region, the company said on Monday. Zoom customers in China received an email on Monday informing them of the change, and telling them it would provide users with “better local support.” In the email, Zoom listed Bizconf Communications, Suiri Zhumu Video Conference, and Systec Umeet – as partners that can offer its commercial service to customers in China. Zoom has been distancing itself from its China operations, which had come under the scrutiny of human rights activists and…

The Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister (OFDPM) has announced the end of the registration period for the sixth edition of the FDPM Fellowship. The FDPM Fellowship helps realise the visions of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, by increasing organisational efficiency through advanced training in research methods and policy analysis, in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. Registration for the sixth edition of the programme took place between 19 July 2020 and 2 August 2020, during which time the programme has attracted a wide…

The Coast Guard announced that the maritime area in the southwest of Bahrain (as shown in the map) is a prohibited area for all seafarers for three months, starting today (August 3). It called upon all to be cautious and don’t come close to the area for their safety.

Team Bahrain McLaren cyclist Damiano Caruso won the Circuito de Getxo race in Spain, clocking 4 hours, 11 minutes and 9 seconds. His teammate Sonny Colbrelli has also won the second stage of the Route Aquitaine race which was held in France. His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Affairs (SCYS) Chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa hailed Team Bahrain McLaren’s double win. “These victories came in the backdrop of the string of wins achieved by Team Bahrain McLaren in previous races”, he said. He…

The Shura Council’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has strongly condemned and denounced the hostile statements made by Turkey’s Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, against the brotherly United Arab Emirates (UAE). The committee, chaired by Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdulla Al-Ajman, stressed that the Turkish official’s statements are rejected and provocative as they contravene diplomatic principles and norms. The committee considered the Turkish minister’s statements an assault against a brotherly country that is keen on supporting the Arab Nation, as well as assisting the International Community to assume its effective role in spreading peace and stability in all countries of…

The international community schools in Oman were catering to over 63,391 expatriate students in 2019, according to official statistics. As per the report issued by the National  Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), 45 international community schools with 3,044 teachers were catering to 63,391 students in the Sultanate in 2019, including 30,848 students. ♦ Oman stops more than 14 billion cyber attacks in 2019 ♦ Kuwait to reduce fees of private schools by 25 percent Of these Muscat had 20 schools catering to 42,932 students through 2,145 teachers. Dhofar had five international community schools with 5,937 students and 261 teachers. North Batinah…

Pilgrims began the second day of Tashreeq by throwing the three Jamarat (Pebbles), under careful preparation and high precautionary measures, to achieve physical distancing between the pilgrims and preserve their safety and the cadres involved in their services. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) team at the Holy Sites reported that the pilgrims’ movements were planned according to a preventive measure; each phase of throwing Jamarat (Pebbles) was done safely and in a healthy manner. The movements of pilgrims were under specific colored paths. This was done under coordination with the relevant security and civil sectors participating in Hajj 1441H season.…