Author: News Desk

As per Bahrain Cabinet’s decision last week to issue a long term Golden Residency Visa to selected foreigner investors, Yusuf Ali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group becomes first recipient. The Golden Residency Visa is part of the country’s economic recovery plan to attract talents and boost its economy. “Obviously a very proud and humbling moment in my life to receive this honour today. I sincerely thank HM King Hamad bin Eisa Al Khalifa, HRH Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain and the Government of Bahrain,” Said Yusuff Ali after receiving his golden visa number 001.…

Bahrain :  With the availability of ID card services on the National Portal, bahrain.bh and self-service ekiosks, appointments for in-person visits for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of ID cards must still be booked online in advance, the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) said. Bookings can be done through the ‘Appointments Booking and Enquiry’ service on the National Portal. iGA Director of Identity & Population Registry, Shaikh Subah bin Hamad Abdullah Al Khalifa said that individuals, government entities, and businesses now have a wide range of ID card services available online, saving them time and effort through faster transactions that…

Bahrain :  The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has conducted an inspection campaign in the Southern Governorate, in cooperation with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism and Southern Governorate Directorate that included a number of Governorate work sites. The campaign spotted a number of violations related to the provisions of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority Law and Bahrain’s Residence Law, and led to taking legal actions against the violators. The authority said the campaign was within the intensive efforts of the LMRA in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and relevant government entities…

Washington: Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is raising the pay of many U.S. retail employees effective this month. The hikes range from 2% to 10% depending on store location and role, and will go to sales staff, including Genius Bar technical staff and some senior hourly workers, the report said. Apple is expanding its retail operations, betting that a combination of strategies developed before and during COVID-19 will make its stores more popular than ever. Last year, it reportedly paid one-time bonuses of as much as $1,000 to store employees ahead of the busy holiday season. The pay of its chief executive,…

Tokyo :  Japan is considering easing its stringent border controls amid growing criticism that the measures, which have banned most foreign entrants including students and business travelers, are hurting the country’s economy and international profile. “I plan to look into easing the border controls,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Saturday. Kishida did not provide a timeline or other details and said he will make a decision based on a scientific assessment of the omicron variant, infection levels in and outside Japan and quarantine measures in other countries. Currently, most of Japan is under virus-related restrictions but infections have shown…

HONG KONG :  Team China’s Eileen Gu is winning over local sports fans and investors alike. Mainland stocks associated with the American-born freestyle skier and fashion model rallied this week as she ascended the podium at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, including her sponsor China Mengniu Dairy .

Dubai : An investigation has been launched after customs authorities in India reported they had confiscated a handgun from a passenger on a flight from Dubai shortly after it arrived in Delhi. Officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport posted on Twitter a photo of a handgun seized from a passenger on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai International Airport. Customs officers said the passenger was arrested after arriving in Delhi from Dubai on flight FZ451 on Tuesday, February 1. “Continuing in its vigil, Customs at IGIA seized a revolver and two empty magazines from an India passenger arrived from Dubai by FZ451 flight…

Antananarivo :  The death toll from Cyclone Batsirai in Madagascar jumped to 120 on Friday from 92 reported earlier this week, the state disaster relief agency said. The cyclone hit the Indian Ocean island late on Saturday, slamming the southeastern coastline before receding late on Sunday. The disaster relief agency said that of the deaths, 87 had occurred in one area, the Ikongo district in southeast Madagascar. It said earlier this week it was still collecting details about what had happened in Ikongo. The latest update raises the death toll from 111 reported earlier on Friday. The agency said the…

ABU DHABI :  The UAE and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their tourism and economic cooperation and reinforce their bilateral ties. The MoU was signed by Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State of Entrepreneurship and SMEs and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, and Yoel Razvozov, Israeli Minister of Tourism, who is currently visiting the UAE. Dr. Al Falasi said the MoU signing took place under the framework of the Abraham Accords between the two countries and the efforts to boost economic cooperation and create partnerships in many areas. The UAE has become a…

Beijing :  Be it sports, politics, hacking or war, the recent history of Russia’s relationship with the world can be summed up in one phrase: They get away with it. Vladimir Putin’s Russia has perfected the art of flouting the rules, whether the venue is the Olympic arena, international diplomacy or meddling in other countries’ elections from the comfort of home. And it has suffered little consequence for its actions. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Russia the country isn’t here — technically. Its athletes are competing under the acronym ROC, for Russian Olympic Committee, for the third time. The national colors and…