Author: News Desk

Colombo : Sri Lanka’s president suspended Parliament until February 8, when he said he would announced a new set of long-term policies to address a range of issues including an unprecedented economic crisis that has engulfed the Indian Ocean nation for months. President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued an extraordinary decree suspending Parliament from midnight Friday. The government did not give a clear reason for the move, but Wickremesinghe’ s office in a statement said his address to lawmakers on February 8 will announce new policies and laws, which will be implemented until the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka’s independence in 2048,…

India : Shares of India’s Adani Enterprises sank nearly 20 per cent on Friday as a scathing report by a US short seller triggered a rout in the conglomerate’s listed companies, casting doubts on how investors will respond to the company’s record $2.45 billion secondary sale. Seven listed companies of the Adani conglomerate — controlled by one of the world’s richest men Gautam Adani — have lost a combined $48 billion in market capitalisation since Wednesday, with US bonds of Adani companies also falling after Hindenburg Research flagged concerns in a January 24 report about debt levels and the use of tax havens. The…

Rome : The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration Europe has been inaugurated during a ceremony held in Rome, the Republic of Italy. The King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence unveiled the covenant in the presence of ambassadors, diplomats and officials, in addition to one hundred students enrolled in the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence. Addressing the ceremony, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Italy Dr. Nasser Mohammed Al Balouchi said that the launch of the declaration in Europe from Italy, amid critical international circumstances, represents a defining moment for promoting all forms of peaceful coexistence, as stated in the…

KYIV, Ukraine : Russia fired more missiles and self-exploding drones at nearly a dozen Ukrainian provinces early Thursday, causing the first war-related death in Kyiv this year and killing at least 11 people overall, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks adhered to Russia’s recent pattern of striking power plants and other critical infrastructure about every two weeks. However, the latest onslaught came after Germany and the United States upped the ante in Russia’s 11-month war by promising Wednesday to send high-tech battle tanks to Ukraine and green-lighting other allies to do the same. The spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, said that…

JERUSALEM :  Israel’s defense minister signaled Friday that the military would stop its airstrikes if Palestinian militant groups halted rocket attacks, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in decades raised the prospect of a major flare-up in fighting. The limited exchange of fire between Gaza militants and the Israeli armed forces has so far followed a familiar pattern that allows both sides to respond without leading to a major escalation. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s instruction to the military to prepare for new strikes in the Gaza Strip “if necessary” also appeared to leave open the possibility that the violence would subside.…

Nottingham : Manchester United’s Premier League title hopes may be fading, but a first final under Erik ten Hag is now in sight. A 3-0 away win in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday put United in control ahead of the return fixture at Old Trafford next week. Goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes at the City Ground went some way toward easing the disappointment of the late 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, which dented United’s challenge at the top of the league. Ten Hag, however, has moved a…

Bauchi :Dozens of cattle herders and bystanders were killed and several injured by a suspected bomb blast in Nigeria’s north central region, a state government official and spokesperson of the national cattle breeders said on Wednesday. The incident happened on Tuesday night between Nasarawa and Benue states in north central Nigeria, Reuters reported. The spokesperson of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Tasi’u Suleman, said a group of Fulani herders were moving their cattle to Nasarawa from Benue, where authorities had confiscated the animals for breaching anti-grazing laws, when an explosion rocked the area. “At least about 54…

Manama : On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today inaugurated the King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH), located in A’ali. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted HM the King’s unwavering support of development projects that enhance the Kingdom’s economic competitiveness and benefit citizens and residents. His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of the healthcare sector and its key role in the Kingdom’s overall development. HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad noted the newly established KHAMH as an extension of…

Manama L Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita arrived in Bahrain today to participate in the fifth session of the Bahrain-Morocco Joint Higher Committee. He was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Morocco Khalid bin Salman Al-Musallam, Morocco’s Ambassador to Bahrain Mustapha Benkhayi, and senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.

Global leaders on Thursday extended wishes to India on its 74th Republic Day. India displays its defence capabilities on January 26 each year, displaying its state-of-the-art land, air and marine military equipment to the world on Republic Day with a parade in the capital New Delhi attended by the president, prime minister, diplomats and tens of thousands of citizens. The nation’s constitution came into effect on that date in 1950, making the country a republic. New Delhi has a tradition of inviting a foreign dignitary on the occasion and this year Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is the guest of honour. UAE President Sheikh…