Author: News Desk

The Bahrain education ministry has confirmed that the ministry will grant graduated high school students scholarships based on their GPA. The ministry will not hold an exam for scholarship as usual due to the coronavirus precautionary health measures and decided to rely on the students’ GPA to compete for scholarships this year. ♦ Bahrain to allow parents to choose learning options Students with a GPA of 95% or more will receive full-paid scholarships, while those with 90%-95% will receive tuition-fees scholarships.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced on Monday the resignation of his government after a powerful Beirut port explosion sparked public uproar against the country’s leaders. Diab, in a televised speech, said the detonation of highly-explosive material warehoused at the port in the capital for the last seven years was “the result of endemic corruption”. “Today we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change,” he said. “In the face of this reality … I am announcing…

The sixth edition of the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, which was postponed from this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held from April 2-10 in 2021 at the same venue, the Olympic Council of Asia said on Monday. The Games was scheduled from Nov. 28-Dec. 6 but China’s General Administration of Sport said last month that the only international sports events allowed in the country this year would be trials for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “The decision taken jointly in collaboration with Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sanya Asian Beach Games Organising Committee will…

 New York’s mass transit agency wants Apple to come up with a better way for iPhone users to unlock their phones without taking off their masks, as it seeks to guard against the spread of the coronavirus in buses and subways. In a letter to CEO Tim Cook, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Patrick Foye said riders have been seen removing their masks to unlock their phones using face-recognition technology, despite a recent update by Apple that simplifies the unlock process for people wearing masks. Previously, an iPhone user wearing a mask would have to wait a few seconds as face…

The National Space Science Agency (NSSA) has concluded its “Create Your Own Space Game” competition from home, designated for Bahraini students aged between 7 and 12. Launched by NSSA, in collaboration with Clever Play Education and Training, the competition aims to encourage students to participate from home by creating a Mars exploration game using the very popular MIT Scratch programming language. 40 Bahraini students took part in the competition and presented their creative games that showcased their distinguished skills. ♦ Bahrain announces start of Phase III clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine ♦ HH Shaikh Khalid instructs to organise ‘Your Talent at Home’…

Bahrain Public Health Directorate on Monday announced the initiation of phase III clinical trial for a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine which will be tested on an estimated 6000 citizens and resident volunteers across Bahrain. The potential vaccine, enlisted by the World Health Organization, will be tested on volunteers who meet the required medical criteria, and the clinical trials are to be conducted by Abu-Dhabi based G42 Healthcare using a vaccine developed by Sinopharm CNBG the world’s sixth largest producer of vaccines in the world. The phase III clinical trials, which will be conducted over 12 months, has been approved by the…

The World Health Organization trusts powerful nations such as the Group of Seven to reach a consensus on how to approach health crises such as the coronavirus, Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme, said on Monday. France and Germany have quit talks on reforming the WHO in frustration at attempts by the United States to lead the negotiations, despite its decision to leave the WHO, three officials told. The move is a setback for President Donald Trump as Washington, which holds the rotating chair of the G7, had hoped to issue a joint roadmap for a sweeping overhaul of…

Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) Deputy Chief Doctor urged full compliance with the mandatory precautionary measures to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect people’s health. Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Consultant Dr, Salwa Al-Nuaimi stressed the importance of community awareness and active participation in the national efforts to combat the pandemic by complying with the preventive measures. She cautioned against any recklessness or complacency, stressing the necessity of continuing the implementation of precautionary measures and guidelines set by official authorities. She underlined the need to avoid gathering and observe social distancing protocols so as to avert infections and curb the spread of…

The National Foundation for Human Rights (NFHR) and Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to coordinate cooperation and develop training programmes in the field of human rights. The memo aims to boost cooperation regarding issues related to human rights and develop skills of NFHR and BIPD staff to promote the culture of human rights.

Minister of Health, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh, inaugurated the multi-storey car park at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). The state-of-the-art parking facility was developed by the Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real-estate arm of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat. Board of Trustees Chairman of Government Hospitals, Shaikh Hesham bin Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Edamah Chief Executive, Ameen Al-Arrayed, and the project’s officials attended the opening ceremony. The minister said that the building will support the vital medical services delivered by SMC, through providing the staff, patients and visitors with spacious and modern parking facility with air-conditioned lobbies and glazed…