Author: News Desk

PROVIDENCE : Even as the U.S. closes in on a milestone of 200 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, cases and hospitalizations are spiking again, including in highly inoculated corners of the country like New England. New cases in the U.S. climbed from an average of nearly 95,000 a day on Nov. 22 to almost 119,000 a day this week, and hospitalizations are up 25% from a month ago. The increases are due almost entirely to the delta variant, though the omicron mutation has been detected in about 20 states and is sure to spread even more. Deaths are running close to 1,600…

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri will appear before a Senate panel on Wednesday as the company faces scrutiny over the potential detrimental impact its photo-sharing social media platform has on young people. In September senators fired a barrage of criticism at Antigone Davis, Facebook’s head of global safety, over the social-networking giant’s handling of internal research on how its Instagram photo-sharing platform can harm teens. The lawmakers accused Facebook, now called Meta, of concealing the negative findings about Instagram and demanded a commitment from the company to make changes. The next month Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on…

Pfizer said Wednesday that a booster of its COVID-19 vaccine may offer important protection against the new omicron variant even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while two doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off omicron. For people who haven’t yet had a booster, the companies said two doses still should prevent severe disease or death. Health authorities in the U.S. and other countries have urged eligible people to get a third dose even…

Bahrain : Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, today delivered the following speech marking the International Anti-Corruption Day: “Bahrain’s celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 affirms its rejection and fighting of the crime for being a hinder against sustainable development and goes against the future of communities and economies globally. In addition, the Day is an occasion to remind all of their rights and to fight corruption. “The Day represents an international dedication to achieving economic recovery through integrity standards; thus, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been pioneering in promoting international cooperation to combat…

Bahrain :  Deputy President of Sultan Qaboos University for international cooperation, Dr. Muna bint Fahad Al Said, paid a visit to the Family and Child Prosecution. She was accompanied by Secretary General and Board of Trustees Deputy Chairperson of the Higher Education Council, Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa. The visit came on the sidelines of Dr. Muna’s visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain to attend the education conference. She was welcomed at the prosecution by the Family and Child Chief Prosecutor, Zainab Al Awinati, and a number of officials. Al Awinati presented a briefing on the…

Bahrain : His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, today met with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Farouk Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed, at Riffa Palace. During the meeting, HH Shaikh Isa commended the private sector’s unwavering support to the Kingdom’s regional and international initiatives and event, particularly in sports. HH Shaikh Isa and Mr Almoayyed reviewed areas of cooperation between the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club and the National Bank of Bahrain, which will contribute to further realising…

Tokyo :  A Japanese billionaire and his producer rocketed to space on Wednesday and reached the International Space Station several hours later, the first visit by self-paying space tourists to the orbiting outpost in more than a decade. Fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa and producer Yozo Hirano, who plans to film his mission, blasted off for the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. The trio lifted off as scheduled at 12:38 p.m. (0738 GMT) aboard Soyuz MS-20 from the Russia-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan and successfully docked at the orbiting outpost almost…

Bahrain  : His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas Holding Company (Nogaholding) His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa visited Bahraini gas company (Banagas). HH Shaikh Nasser affirmed the continuation of efforts to develop the energy sector and place national companies in the ranks of international companies in this field, especially that energy sector in Bahrain receives the attention of His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas…

Bahrain : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will lead the well-wishers in welcoming Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud upon his arrival in Bahrain on Thursday on an official visit, the Royal Court has announced. The Court said the talks between HM King Hamad and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would cover the close and distinguished historical brotherly relations binding the two brotherly countries and peoples, as well as the latest regional, Arab and international developments. The Royal Court welcomes the…

A senior aide to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned, hours after an investigation began into allegations of a Covid-breaking Christmas party at Downing Street last year. Mr Johnson ordered the investigation into claims staff broke lockdown rules and told MPs he was furious about leaked footage apparently showing aides joking about it. The prime minister apologised unreservedly for the offence caused by the footage of Allegra Stratton, his spokeswoman at the time, at a mock press conference. Ms Stratton was in tears as she announced her resignation, apologising to people who have made “immense sacrifices” and said she would…