Author: News Desk

President Sheikh Mohamed arrived in Paris on Thursday evening for high-level talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders arrived for a working dinner reception at the Elysee presidential Palace. They are expected to discuss the long-standing friendship and well-established ties between the two countries, as well as other issues of common concern. State news agency Wam confirmed Sheikh Mohamed’s arrival shortly before 10pm. It said Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron would review the strategic partnership between their nations and explore ways to expand links across all fields. It marks Sheikh Mohamed’s second trip to France in 12 months after he…

The US coastguard has seized $80 million worth of heroin from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, America’s Central Command has said. Wednesday’s seizure of the contraband — about two tonnes in total — was the second by the USCGC Glen Harris this week. The ship was raided as it transited international waters after departing from Chah Bahar in Iran. “Glen Harris also seized $30 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin two days ago from another fishing vessel that departed the same port,” the Central Command said. US authorities impounded 580kg of methamphetamine and 35kg of heroin on May…

London : The World Health Organization said Thursday that the global outbreak of mpox, which initially baffled experts when the smallpox-related disease spread to more than 100 countries last year, is no longer an international emergency, after a dramatic drop in cases in recent months. Last July, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared mpox, also known as monkeypox, to be an “extraordinary” situation that qualified as a global crisis. In doing so, he overruled WHO’s expert committee, which didn’t recommend the emergency designation. He said at a media briefing on Thursday that his expert committee had concluded that the recent…

Dubai : The Housing and Urban Planning Ministry’s new housing finance programme won the Best Innovative Programme Award for year 2023, which is granted by the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) in the Middle East and North Africa region. This award recognizes the ministry’s efforts, in collaboration with Eskan Bank, to provide innovative housing solutions and programmes. The Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Amena bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eskan Bank, said the launch of the finance programme last year in August, was in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin…

Copenhagen : Sweden-based Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) is delaying production of its Volvo EX90 model for more software development and testing, the carmaker said on Thursday. It now expects to start production in the first half of 2024, it said in a statement. Volvo Cars, majority owned by China’s Geely (0175.HK), unveiled its Volvo EX90 model, a fully electric SUV, towards the end of last year. The company previously said it would begin production of the EX90 at the end of 2023.

Manama : Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, presented the Prince Salman bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit to NPRA directors. The presentation of the merit comes per the order of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to all concerned authorities to hand over the merit to medical teams and other concerned organisations. He handed the merit to the Director of Research and Follow Up, Col. Talal Taqi, the…

Manama : Bharanatyam is an Indian classical dance form. The practice of this dance form in Bahrain is very much prevalent. One of the institutions which promote this dance form in Bahrain is the Dynamic Art Center.  Under the tutelage of Nritya KalaRatna Guru Smt. Hansul Gani, this institution regularly sends their pupils for Arangatram, which is a de facto graduation in this art form. It is only when the Guru feels that a student is ready to perform the Arangatram, that he/she is allowed to take the stage.  This year six students will be graduating in a performance which will…

The US is working with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to extend a ceasefire in Sudan and reach a deal on the provision of humanitarian assistance, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Negotiations between the warring sides, the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, began on Sunday in the Saudi city of Jeddah in an effort to end the bloodshed that has killed hundreds and forced many to flee. “Together now, we are pressing the warring parties in Sudan to put down their guns and allow life-saving aid to reach the Sudanese people,” Mr Blinken said on Tuesday, during a joint press conference…

More than 50 million people will cast their votes to elect a new government in India’s southern Karnataka state on Wednesday. More than 2,600 candidates are in the fray for 224 assembly constituencies in the sixth-largest state in the country. More than a million people will vote for the first time, the chief election commissioner said. Polling is scheduled across more than 58,000 stations and counting will be done on May 13. The battle is between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition Indian National Congress — hoping to form a government with a full majority — and the regional Janata Dal.…

Manama : Labour Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, opened the Career Day, which was organized by the Arab Open University today, in the presence of its President Dr. Gharamallah bin Abdullah Al Ghamedi and the university’s educational and administrative authority. A number of officials from the Labour Ministry and private sector establishments also attended. The Career Day aims to inform the Arab Open University students and graduates about professions that suit their specialties and equip them with the needed experience in applying for jobs, preparing CVs and sitting for job interviews. The event featured associated functions like holding awareness meetings and…