Author: News Desk

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for talks with Moscow on unlocking wheat exports that are trapped in Ukraine as a result of a Russian sea blockade. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week accused Russia of using food as a weapon by holding “hostage” supplies for not just Ukrainians, but also millions of people around the world. Moscow rejects this allegation. “The most important (thing) is to deblock the Black Sea. This is a call on Russia,” von der Leyen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Von…

Eighty-two percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine should not sign away any of its territories as part of a peace deal with Russia under any circumstances, according to a new survey by one of the country’s top pollsters. In the poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology between May 13-18 and released on Tuesday, 82% of respondents said they did not support territorial concessions, even if it prolonged the war and increased the threat to Ukraine’s independence. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, a move Moscow calls a special military operation to “demilitarise” Ukraine.…

The Russian rouble strengthened to levels not seen since March 2018 against the dollar on Tuesday, boosted by export-focused companies selling foreign currency to pay taxes and shrugging off a slight easing of capital controls. The rouble has firmed about 30% against the dollar this year despite a full-scale economic crisis in Russia, making it the world’s best-performing currency. The rouble is steered by capital controls imposed in late February to shield Russia’s financial sector after Moscow’s decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine prompted unprecedented Western sanctions. At 1110 GMT, the rouble was 2.5% stronger against the…

Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons (YKA), the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in Bahrain, opened its renovated Nissan showroom this week. Located in Sitra, the showroom implements Nissan Retail Concept, the globally consistent brand experience, offering an improved facility design, seamless service process, and a digital environment that responds to diversifying expectations and lifestyles. https://youtu.be/L8-1xuwfc3s The grand inauguration was in the presence of Miyamoto Mayasuki, the Ambassador of Japan to Bahrain, Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman of Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Board of Directors of Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Thierry Sabbagh, President of Nissan Saudi Arabia and Managing Director of Nissan Middle…

Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to 16 countries following the re-outbreak of COVID-19. These include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus and Venezuela. The ban comes following a steady increase in the number of daily COVID-19 infections over the past few weeks. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has ensured the public that it has not detected any cases of monkeypox in Saudi Arabia yet, Al Arabiya reported. Dr. Abdullah Asiri, deputy minister of health for preventive health, said that the Kingdom’s health sector is…

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) participated in the first International Festival of Gold and Jewelry held in Uzbekistan on May 21-25. Shouq Al Alawi, Director of Handicrafts Department in BACA, presented a research on embroidery and goldsmithing in Bahrain. She explained the historical and cultural legacy of the gold industry in the Kingdom and the connection of this industry with the customs and traditions of Bahraini people, in addition to the stages of development of goldsmithing and embroidery of all kinds in Bahrain. Al Alawi said that the existing of gold in Bahrain dates back to 2050…

The National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) is continuing to honor its pledge to plant trees and shrubs at various sites across Bahrain to contribute to the expansion of green areas and help fight climate change. On Monday, NIAD, in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning and the Supreme Council for the Environment, planted 131 Hibiscus Tiliaceus trees at Road 40 Intersection in Seef District, thanks to the generous support of CrediMax. The planting was the 32nd by the “Forever Green” campaign under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife…

AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation (MKF) announced the launch of a special edition of its Youth Enrichment Program, Ithra, for students of the Canadian School Bahrain. The program’s values are based on the students needs and presented by specialized trainers and will be held at the school for six weeks starting from the 15th of May 2022. The program will be held twice a week, featuring interactive workshops and physical activities based on the following values: self-confidence, responsibility, managing stress, teamwork, effective communication, treasure-hunting, planning, taking initiative, creativity, goal setting and Ithra talk. The leading program was designed with the participants’ study…

The Russian rouble firmed around 4% against the dollar and euro on Monday, heading back towards multi-year highs hit last week, supported by capital controls and an upcoming month-end tax period. By 1050 GMT, the rouble was 4% stronger against the dollar at 57.85 , not far from 57.0750, its strongest mark since late March 2018, hit on Friday. It had gained 4.4% to trade at 60.05 versus the euro , nearing its strongest point since June 2015 of 59.02, also reached on Friday. The rouble has firmed about 30% against the dollar this year despite a full-scale economic crisis…

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, capping a series of critical comments about China while in Asia that an aide said represented no change in U.S. policy toward the self-ruled island. Biden’s remarks, made during his first visit to Japan since taking office, and as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida looked on, appeared to be a departure from existing U.S. policy of so-called strategic ambiguity on Taiwan. China considers the democratic island its territory, under its “one China” policy, and says it is the most sensitive and important issue…