Author: News Desk

A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28 after being ordered to shoot him. Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a “criminal order” by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim’s head from an automatic weapon. “The court has decided: Shishimarin Vadim Evgenyevich … is found guilty ……

Only Ukraine has the right to decide its future, the Polish president told lawmakers in Kyiv on Sunday, as he became the first foreign leader to give a speech in person to the Ukrainian parliament since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. Kyiv has ruled out any peace deal that would involve it ceding territory and has dismissed calls for a ceasefire that would involve Russian forces remaining in territory they have occupied, saying this would simply give Moscow time to rebuild its forces. “Worrying voices have appeared, saying that Ukraine should give in to Putin’s demands,” Andrzej Duda said. “Only Ukraine…

The Kremlin said on Monday that the West had triggered a global food crisis by imposing the severest sanctions in modern history on Russia over the war in Ukraine. The war – and the West’s attempt to isolate Russia as punishment – have sent the price of grain, cooking oil, fertiliser and energy soaring. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that he was in intense contact with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union in an effort to restore grain exports from Ukraine as a global food crisis worsens. Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said,…

The U.S. Senate approved nearly $40 billion in aid for Ukraine on Thursday sending the bill to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law as Washington races to keep military assistance flowing nearly three months after Russia’s invasion. The Senate voted 86-11 in favor of the package of military, economic and humanitarian assistance, by far the largest U.S. aid package for Ukraine to date. All 11 no votes were from Republicans. “This is a large package, and it will meet the large needs of the Ukrainian people as they fight for their survival,” Democratic Senate Majority…

McDonald’s Corp is selling its restaurants in Russia to one of its current local licensees, who will rebrand them under a new name, ending more than three decades of the “Golden Arches” in the country, the fast-food company said on Thursday. The world’s largest burger chain owns 84% of its nearly 850 restaurants in Russia. Chicago-based McDonald’s on Monday became one of the biggest global brands to exit Russia following its February invasion of Ukraine. McDonald’s said it will retain its trademarks. In March, McDonald’s temporarily closed its restaurants in Russia including its first location in Pushkin Square – a symbol…

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused huge environmental damage for which Kyiv will seek compensation in international courts, Ukraine’s environment minister said on Thursday. Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, said the war had destroyed ecosystems, deprived wildlife of its natural habitat and contaminated land in one of the world’s main grain producers. “Over the past 20 years, this is the first military conflict in the world that has caused such large-scale environmental damage,” he told a news conference. “Russian missiles hit our oil depots, thermal power plants, chemical plants – this definitely affects the environment. Forests…

Manama: Gulf Air, in collaboration with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), participated in Arabian Travel Market 2022 in Dubai. Bahrain’s national carrier was part of the authority’s pavilion that represented the Kingdom at the yearly travel exhibition. Gulf Air Acting CEO Captain Waleed Al Alawi met with the national carrier’s partners and representatives of tourism authorities and travel agencies participating in the exhibition. Captain AlAlawi praised BTEA’s Deputy CEO Fatima Al Sairafi and the authority’s efforts in highlighting Bahrain’s tourism showcased at the exhibition.

Manama: The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) has announced the innovative identity of the New Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (IECC) in Sakhir. Bahrain IECC is planned to be launched by the end of this year, with the goal of strengthening the Kingdom of Bahrain’s status as a leading destination for exhibitions, events, and enterprises, as well as attracting future tourism investments and events to the area. Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani,, affirmed that this unique architectural…

The joint defence drill, “Neon Defender 22”, carried out by a number of units from the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Coast Guard, and the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), concluded here today. Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Major-General Ghanim Al-Fadhala, Commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, Vice Admiral, Brad Cooper, and Commander of Royal Bahraini Naval Force (RBNF), Rear Admiral Mohammed Yousef Al-Asam, attended the closing ceremony. Neon Defender 22 featured a number of diverse workshops and joint military exercises that keep pace with the latest developments,…

Airfield maintenance work at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) is now completed, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced. Carried out twice annually, the work is vital to maintain civil and airfield ground lighting of the runway, helping to ensure safe and smooth aircraft operations. “Runways and taxiways experience significant wear and tear during normal operations, so maintaining these surfaces without disrupting flights is a key part of any airport operator’s responsibility,”BAC Chief Development and Technical Officer Abdulla Janahi said. “Using all necessary resources and adhering to a strict schedule, our Airside and Landside Maintenance and Infrastructure and Building Maintenance teams diligently planned…