Author: News Desk

Yakutsk in Russian Siberia is known as the world’s coldest city. In a place where even an exposed nose during the winter months can cause biting pain, people are accustomed to taking precautions against freezing temperatures, including spending extra time in the morning to dress in many layers. But now the city is blanketed in a haze as nearby wildfires tear through forests that have been parched by weeks of heatwaves. The fires are so big, and the winds are strong, smoke is traveling as far away as Alaska. In the US, the Bootleg wildfire in Oregon has grown into a monstrous complex with…

China: At least 33 people have died and eight remain missing in central China, as authorities ramp up rescue and recovery efforts following devastating floods that submerged entire neighborhoods, trapped passengers in subway cars, caused landslides, and overwhelmed dams and rivers. Torrential rains have battered Henan province since last weekend, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and causing 1.22 billion yuan (about $190 million) of economic damage, Henan authorities said Thursday. Home to 99 million residents, Henan is one of China’s most populous and poorest provinces, with large swathes of farmlands and factories.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today approved the recommendation issued by the UN NGOs’ Committee on May 21, 2021, on granting the Bahrain Public Relations Associations (BPRA) the “Consultative Status”. The decision is in line with the provisions of Article (71) of the UN Charter, which stipulates that “the Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence.” The “Consultative Status” will allow the BPRA to participate in the meetings of ECOSOC and other UN agencies. BPRA shall also have the capacity to consult with…

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on the Revolution Day. His Majesty the King wished him abundant health and happiness and further growth and prosperity to Egypt. He praised deep-rooted relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples and their perpetual growth at all levels.

Bahrain: Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has confirmed a ground incident at Dubai International Airport where one of its aircraft was impacted on the tail by an aircraft of another airline. Gulf Air added that it was working to reconnect all the passengers to their final destinations.

Germany: At least 170 people died in Germany’s natural disaster in more than half a century, and thousands went missing. The damage caused by devastating floods in Germany last week is likely to cost the insurance industry up to five billion euros ($5.9 billion), the GDV insurance industry association said, “We are currently expecting insured losses of four to five billion euros,” Joerg Asmussen, chief executive of the GDV, said in a statement, calling the disaster “one of the most devastating storms in recent history”.

New York: Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, and world’s wealthiest man, said after flying to the edge of space,  he planned to award $100 million each to CNN contributor Van Jones and chef  Jose Andres. Bezos said that Jones and Andres were free to do “what they want” with the money. “They can give it all to their own charity,” Bezos said at a press conference after his trip to space. “Or they can share the wealth. It is up to them.” The money, Bezos said, was tied to a “surprise” philanthropic initiative he wanted to announce called the Courage and Civility Award. The award…

Tokyo: The Tokyo Olympics should not be judged by the tally of COVID-19 cases that arise because eliminating risk is impossible, the head of the World Health Organization told sports officials Wednesday as events began in Japan. How infections are handled is what matters most, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a speech to an International Olympic Committee meeting. “The mark of success is making sure that any cases are identified, isolated, traced and cared for as quickly as possible and onward transmission is interrupted,” he said. The number of Games-linked COVID-19 cases in Japan this month was 79…

Bahrain: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister,  today congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the successful organization of the Hajj pilgrimage, which was held amid exceptional circumstances due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. His Royal Highness commended Saudi Arabia’s tremendous efforts, led by King Salman, the Crown Prince and the government, to hold the Hajj pilgrimage all whilst implementing adequate precautionary measures to ensure the highest levels of safety and health for pilgrims. His Royal Highness expressed best wishes to the Hajj…

Manama, : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the successful organisation of the Hajj pilgrimage, which was held amid exceptional circumstances due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. His Majesty the King commended the tremendous efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the government to hold the Hajj pilgrimage all whilst implementing adequate precautionary measures to ensure the highest levels of safety and health for pilgrims. His Majesty the King expressed best wishes to the Hajj pilgrims,…