Author: News Desk

The Council of Ministers has restructured the visa system for Haj and Umrah pilgrims and transit passengers by unifying the visa fee for each person at a rate of SR300. The Cabinet also canceled the for repeating the Umrah pilgrimage. Previously an Umrah pilgrim had to pay SR2,000 ($533) in case of repeating the pilgrimage for three years. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Benten, who is also chairman of the Committee of the Guests’ Service Program said: “This also shows kingdom’s readiness to receive the increasing number of Haj and Umrah…

Making healthier food choices is about to get easier, as the UAE is set to roll-out color-coded labels on foods to let people know their nutritional value. The nationwide policy, which will become mandatory by 2022, will see foods labeled in three colors: red (not healthy; avoid frequent consumption), amber (not completely healthy, but moderate consumption is okay), and green (healthy; okay to eat regularly). Calorie counts are also set to be included. News of the food labels comes after the UAE Cabinet announced in August it would expand the list of products subject to an excise tax to include…

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi admits to not being a close friend of Cristiano Ronaldo but says he would happily accept a dinner invitation from the Juventus forward. The two eternal rivals saw their paths cross once more at the recent UEFA awards gala. Sitting alongside one another on the front row, the pair were asked about their relationship – having spent many years competing for collective and individual prizes. Ronaldo, who left Messi behind in La Liga when leaving Real Madrid for Juve in 2018, again aired his admiration and respect for his fellow five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Those feelings are mutual, with there never any bad blood…

Liberia goalkeeper Ashley Williams has been rewarded $5000 by Jos Travel Agency for his penalty save in the 94th minute of their World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on Tuesday. Having defeated the Leone Stars 3-1 in the first-leg at home on September 4, the Lone Stars trailed 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Freetown and risked elimination if their hosts won 2-0. Facing a penalty in second-half stoppage time, the visitors were on the brink of being knocked out. However, the 18-year-old shot-stopper faced Umaru Bangura from 12 yards late on and came out on top to help his country progress…

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the ambassadors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Britain, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Mansour Abdullah Khalfan Belhoul. A large number of ministers, MPs, ambassadors, media, and friends of the Kingdom of Bahrain attended the dinner banquet. These included the Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the British Foreign Office, Dr. Andrew Morrison, Former Minister…

The ASEAN Bahrain Council and the Thai Club in Bahrain signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), on the sidelines of the Thai Expo, opened by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa here yesterday. Board directors’ chairmen of the ASEAN Bahrain Council and the Thai Club signed the MoU, in the presence of the Thai Ambassador to Bahrain, Thanis Na Songkhla. Board of Directors’ Chairman of the ASEAN Bahrain Council, Shaikh Daij bin Isa Al Khalifa, said that the MoU aims to enhance investment cooperation between the two friendly countries, as well as create new trade…

Saudi Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf has today received, in Riyadh, United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov and discussed concerted efforts to combat terrorism, in addition to regional and international developments. SPA said that the two sides had discussed the activities of the Counterterrorism Centre. Saudi Arabia contributed to the establishment of the canter and donated $110 million in support of its activities. Follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/StarvisionN Like & Follow us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/starvisionnewsenglish

BDF Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa paid inspection visits to several BDF units. The commander-in-chief reviewed the units’ administrative and combat readiness, as well as their military preparations and work progress. Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed lauded the honorable achievements attained by the BDF since its establishment, hailing the landmark accomplishments of its brave affiliates, to whom he wished every success in carrying out the tasks assigned to them in Bahrain and abroad. The commander-in-chief said that the BDF is exerting great efforts and steadily in providing all means of strength and resistance to its…

UAE based business conglomerate, Western International Group, announced the opening of the Nesto Centre Hypermarket in Gudaibiya. The official inauguration will be conducted at 10 am on Thursday, the 12th of September 2019. The ceremony will officially be solemnized by H.E.Sheikh Hisham bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, Governor of Capital Governorate in the presence of familiar dignitaries in the region. The new venture, a BD2 million project, occupying an area of 45,000 square feet with more than 250 parking spaces will be the biggest from the group in the Kingdom. The official spokesperson yesterday revealed that it will be the…

A female lawyer has been imprisoned for a month and fined BD50, until her next appeal, for deliberately withholding the salary of a fellow lawyer. Details of the case, as per court’s documents, indicate that the female lawyer was convicted of deliberately withholding the salary of a lawyer who works for her office for two consecutive months. The victim, who is also a female lawyer, reported the case to the Public Prosecution and provided evidence of not receiving her two-month salary (BD800). Follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/StarvisionN Like & Follow us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/starvisionnewsenglish