Author: News Desk

WASHINGTON : In what’s become a familiar scene, President Joe Biden lingered after delivering a recent speech on the pandemic as reporters fired a barrage of questions. He bristled at a query about the shortage of COVID-19 rapid tests, answered another about omicron-spurred travel restrictions and sidestepped a third about whether Sen. Joe Manchin failed to keep his word when he torpedoed Biden’s social services and climate spending plan. “I’m not supposed to be having this press conference right now,” Biden said at the end of a meandering response that didn’t directly answer the question about Manchin. Seconds later, Biden…

Bahrain : Defence Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Major General Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa patronized the 10th Constituent Judicial Session for Military Prosecution officers with the participation of officers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the military and security bodies in the kingdom. The undersecretary asserted that the session is in line with the keenness of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) to cooperate with the military judicial entities of brotherly countries’ armed forces, commending the efforts exerted by the Military Judiciary to hold regular judicial and legal courses. He expressed appreciation to the BDF Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Shaikh…

Bahrain : Secretary General of the Higher Education Council, Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, the Deputy Chairperson of the Higher Education Council Board of Trustees, held a coordination meeting with Acting Chief Executive of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), Mondher Al-Medawi. She discussed with him ways of boosting joint cooperation between the Higher Education Council and BQA to develop the higher education sector, praising the authority’s efforts in this regard. Al-Medawi expressed thanks to Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa for her keenness on continuous communication with the relevant institutions and…

Bahrain : HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has expressed deep pride in the success of “2 Seas Motorsport” team, captained by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in clinching the title of the Gulf 12 Hours, held at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. “We are very proud of this achievement,” HH Shaikh Nasser posted on his Instagram account. HH Shaikh Nasser indicated that the victory adds to Bahrain’s rich record of accomplishments at international sports gatherings, adding that it will be a…

MOSCOW :  The former head of Kazakhstan’s counterintelligence and anti-terror agency has been arrested on charges of attempted government overthrow in the wake of violent protests that the president has blamed on foreign-backed terrorists. The arrest of Karim Masimov was announced Saturday by the National Security Committee, which Masimov headed until he was removed this week by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Authorities say security forces killed 26 demonstrators in this week’s unrest and that 18 law-enforcement officers died. More than 4,400 people have been arrested, the Interior Ministry said Saturday. The protests in the Central Asian nation were the most widespread…

ISLAMABAD :  At least 22 people, including 10 children, died in a popular mountain resort town in Pakistan after being stuck in their vehicles overnight during a heavy snowstorm as temperatures plummeted, officials said Saturday. Most of the victims died of hypothermia, officials said. Among them was an Islamabad police officer and seven other members of his family, fellow police officer Atiq Ahmed said. More than 4 feet (1 meter) of snow fell in the area of the Murree Hills resort overnight Friday and early Saturday, trapping thousands of cars on roadways, said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. The snow…

Bahrain : The Labour and Social Development Ministry hosted the signing of employment contracts of 32 Bahrainis at Bapco Retail Company (Bapco Tazweed) in supervisory, administrative and technical positions at various petrol stations. The job interviews were held last December, within the second edition of the National Employment Programme. Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, met the Acting General Manager of Bapco Tazweed, Khalid Al-Tayyar, who reviewed the company’s plans to recruit nationals. He also asserted that the Bahrainisation rate in Bapco Tazweed has reached 99%. On the occasion, the minister lauded Bapco Tazweed’s interest in…

Bahrain :  The Elections Committee for the 30th session of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has announced that BCCI’s new board will be elected on March 19, adding that the venue of elections will be set later. During its first meeting, held last Thursday, the panel affirmed its keenness to provide the highest standards of neutrality, fairness, transparency and efficiency in managing BCCI board’s electoral process. The committee, chaired by Adel Hussain Al-Maskati, approved the appointment of Abbas Abdulmohsen Radhi as its Deputy Chairman. The panel approved the schedule of of the…

Kuwait : Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Shaikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah, commended the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa which has promoted Bahrain’s active presence on the Arab, regional and international scenes. He also praised the kingdom’s support to the GCC and pan-Arab work. Shaikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah lauded Bahrain’s development efforts, led by HM the King, which brough about stability and growth to the Bahraini people. The minister was speaking during a meeting at Kuwait Foreign Ministry General Court with Arab…

Berlin :  Germany is to relax its quarantine rules while bringing in additional restrictions for restaurants and bars, federal and state leaders agreed on Friday, in response to fears of a surge in coronavirus cases, said dpa international. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the premiers of the nation’s 16 states decided to exempt certain people from quarantining if they come into contact with someone who has caught the virus. This includes people who have recently received a second or third vaccine shot and people who have recently recovered from infection, according to a paper released following the videoconference. The length of…