Author: News Desk

India’s main opposition Congress Party called a meeting of its highest decision-making body on Monday, following a letter from almost two dozen top leaders seeking changes to the way the party is run. Long a dominant force in Indian politics, the Congress has suffered two heavy defeats in general elections by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by current Prime Minster Narendra Modi. The letter, that calls for better decision making within the party, is a rare challenge to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, that has dominated the Congress since India won independence from colonial power Great Britain in 1947. The signatories…

The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) has launched #AskDXBOfficial, an initiative that gives the public and the media a chance to ask questions to Dubai’s senior government officials. The initiative is part of GDMO’s objective of creating platforms that allow the community to clarify issues and concerns with government officials. The first #AskDXBOfficial interaction this week featured Major General Mohammed Al Marri, the Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. Al Marri answered a series of questions on current immigration and travel procedures and protocols for citizens and residents. Alia Al Theeb,…

Chairperson of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), Maria Khoury, has stressed that Bahrain is interested in human rights as they are an integral part of the national fundamentals, noting that guaranteeing civil and political rights and liberties emanates from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s sound vision. She underlined the importance of ensuring justice, equality and dignity for all human beings, without distinction, stressing that the culture of human rights respect has become a lifestyle in the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The NIHR presented its views on the National Human Rights Plan a year and a half…

Fire crews made slow progress Saturday battling some of the largest wildfires in California history — thanks to improved weather conditions and additional resources coming from others states. But danger loomed with the threat of thunderstorms and lightning forecast for Sunday that could spark new fires and overwhelm firefighters battling hundreds of fires throughout the state. Light winds, cool and moist air hitting land from the ocean and more equipment arriving for firefighters helped them make their most significant progress battling three massive Northern California fire “complexes” — multiple wildfires in one area being treated as a single incident. They…

Social distancing is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to avoid virus infection, a family physician has said. When applied properly, social distancing will prevent the virus from spreading and will accelerate its elimination, Dr. Reem Al Saffar said as she lauded Bahrain’s steady efforts to mitigate COVID-19. Social distancing means maintaining a safe distance between people to help limit the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infection, she added. Maintaining social distancing is important, even if the person is not infected, as it is a precautionary measure intended to stay away from possible infection…

The World Health Organization’s Europe office said it has begun discussions with Russia to try to obtain more information about the experimental COVID-19 vaccine the country recently approved. Last week, Russia became the first country in the world to license a coronavirus vaccine when President Vladimir Putin announced its approval. But the vaccine has not yet passed the advanced trials normally required to prove it works before being licensed, a major breach of scientific protocol. Russian officials claimed the vaccine would provide lasting immunity to COVID-19 but offered no proof. Catherine Smallwood, a senior emergency official at WHO Europe said…

DoorDash, the largest U.S. third-party delivery company for restaurants, on Thursday launched a new grocery service, entering an increasingly crowded market dominated by Instacart and Amazon’s Amazon Fresh. Grocery delivery on DoorDash’s app will begin with Meijer Inc, among others, and expand to more regional and specialty chains in coming weeks, DoorDash’s head of “new verticals” Faud Hannon told Reuters. The more than $680 billion U.S. grocery industry has seen sales rise as the coronavirus pandemic prompted people to stay home and cook more, and to shun shopping themselves in favor of lower-contact delivery services. DoorDash grocery orders are fulfilled…

BRAVE Combat Federation’s 40th iteration, scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, will mark the first time Anton Turkalj will co-headline a card in his career, as he takes on Ibo Aslan in the second most important fight of the Sweden Finale. Anton’s way to the co-main event of the evening has been one of a rising star. A long-time IMMAF amateur veteran, Turkalj won a European Championship in 2017 and medaled in 2018 European and the 2017 IMMAF World Championship, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Since he turned pro, Anton has not faced a single loss yet. Five wins…

In the biggest speech of his nearly 50 years in public life, Joe Biden will spell out his vision for the presidency on Thursday when he accepts the Democratic nomination to challenge Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 U.S. election. Biden’s speech on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention will be a high point in a long political career for the former U.S. senator and vice president, who fared poorly in two previous runs for the White House in 1988 and 2008. It will conclude a nominating convention that was held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic,…

Bahrain will be lifting the 10-day quarantine requirement for all incoming passengers. The compulsory 10-day quarantine will be lifted for all the passengers who test negative, following their test upon arrival in Bahrain. The passengers will still be required to pay the cost of two COVID-19 tests, an arrival test, and a test to be conducted after their stay in Bahrain for 10 days, at a total of BHD 60. Passengers will need to sign a declaration that they will follow the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health regulations to self-isolate until a negative test result comes back and will be required to…