Author: News Desk

Manama: A commemorative stamp has been issued in accordance with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to mark the historical achievement of the Royal Guard team in reaching the peak of Mount Everest. The stamp, issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Bahrain Post, captures the moment that the team reached its peak. The issue comes as part of Bahrain Post’s efforts to commemorate important Bahraini achievements and historic moments and to recognize the determination and strength displayed by the Royal Guard team in achieving this major milestone. The stamp is available at all Bahrain…

Bahrain :  His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has received a cable of congratulations from the Chairman of the Shura Council, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, on the new Hijri Year 1443. Al-Saleh extended heartfelt congratulations to HM the King on the occasion, wishing HM King Hamad and the Arab and Islamic nations many happy returns. He also prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless HM the King with abundant health and happiness, and the kingdom with further progress and prosperity, under HM the King’s leadership.

Wellington :  Under pressure from businesses and public sectors facing a worker shortage that policymakers fear will fuel inflation, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is due to unveil plans this week to reopen the country’s borders. Ardern garnered global praise for containing local transmission of COVID-19 via an elimination strategy, imposing tough lockdowns and slamming New Zealand’s international border shut in March 2020, Reuters said. However, that tactic is now straining an economy heavily reliant on an immigrant workforce, leading to higher costs and lower output. The dairy, horticulture, housing, services, health and broader public sector have all reported…

KABUL :  Suspected Taliban fighters killed an Afghan radio station manager in Kabul and kidnapped a journalist in southern Helmand province, local government officials said on Monday, reporting the latest in a long line of attacks targeting media workers. Gunmen shot Toofan Omar, the station manager of Paktia Ghag radio and an officer for NAI, a rights group supporting independent media in Afghanistan, in a targeted killing in the capital on Sunday. Omari was killed by unidentified gunmen…he was liberal man…we are being targeted for working independently,” said Mujeeb Khelwatgar, the head of NAI. Officials in Kabul suspected Taliban fighters…

Bahrain :  President of the Sustainable Energy Authority (SPA), Dr. Abdulhussain bin Ali Mirza, received the Second Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives, MP Ali Ahmed Zayed. Dr. Mirza praised MP Zayed’s contributions to the citizens of the Southern Governorate’s fourth constituency, and the Representatives Council, in addition to his interest in the concerns of the citizens, and keenness to ensure that the best services are provided for them. He also hailed his keenness to consolidate the concept of sustainable energy through his key role in the Legislative branch. SEA President reviewed the landmark achievements attained by the kingdom…

Japan : Support for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga slid below 30% for the first time since he took office, a survey showed on Monday, a sign the Tokyo Olympic Games failed to boost his ratings amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections. Roughly a third disapproved of holding the Games which closed on Sunday and 60% said they did not want Suga to stay on as premier, according to the poll conducted by Asahi newspaper, darkening his ruling party’s prospects in general elections to be held later this year. In the poll conducted over the weekend, Suga’s support slid to…

UN: The U.N. climate panel sounded a dire warning Monday, saying the world is dangerously close to runaway warming – and that humans are “unequivocally” to blame. Already, greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are high enough to guarantee climate disruption for decades if not centuries, scientists warn in a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). That’s on top of the deadly heat waves, powerful hurricanes and other weather extremes that are happening now and are likely to become more severe. Describing the report as a “code red for humanity,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate…

Australia :  Australia expanded a COVID-19 lockdown to a rural town and the coastal region of Byron Bay on Monday, as fears grew that the virus has spread from Sydney to the northern tip of the country’s most populous state. Tamworth, a farming town 414 km (257 miles) northwest of Sydney, and Byron Bay, a tourist spot about 770 km north of Sydney, will both enter a seven-day lockdown, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. Neither Tamworth nor Byron Bay has yet recorded a Covid-19 case, but Berejiklian said two infected people had contravened travel bans and travelled there.…

Saudi Arabia :  The International Falcon Breeders Auction (IFBA) has witnessed a historical event when a a rare falcon was sold at a record SR270,000, during the second night of the direct auction held at the Saudi Falcons Club (SFC) in Malham, North of Riyadh, in which the most expensive falcon bred by Saudi breeders was auctioned. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the falcon, bred at Al-Aradi’s Farm in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has seen intense competition at the occasion. It weighs 1105 grams, is 17 and a half inches long, and 16 and three quarters inches…

Paris, Aug.8 (BNA): Defending champion Lille needed an equalizer in the last seconds of stoppage time to secure a 3-3 draw at Metz in a thrilling French league game on Sunday, reports AP. Veteran Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz collected the ball in Lille’s counterattack, broke down the left, cut inside a defender and saw his low shot clip the goalkeeper’s leg and loop over the line in the sixth minute of added time. Yilmaz scored several crucial goals in Lille’s title run last season and celebrated wildly in front of the visiting Lille fans, who saw their side lead 1-0…