Author: News Desk

VATICAN CITY : Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday. He was 95. Benedict stunned the world on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced, in his typical, soft-spoken Latin, that he no longer had the strength to run the 1.2 billion-strong Catholic Church that he had steered for eight years through scandal and indifference. His dramatic decision paved the way for the conclave that elected Pope Francis as his successor. The…

Manama: The Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club (REHC) today signed a contract for Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) to sponsor the development and operation of the Club’s grandstand. Commenting on the occasion, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the REHC High Committee, highlighted the important role the private sector plays in ensuring the advancement of the Kingdom’s horse racing sector. HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman noted the unwavering support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister,…

Manila : The death toll from flooding and landslides caused by Christmas Day rains in the southern Philippines rose to 44, with 28 others still unaccounted for, the national disaster agency said on Friday. Damage to infrastructure and crops has been estimated at 1.36 billion pesos ($24.4 million), it said in a bulletin. Heavy rains submerged villages, towns and highways in the Visayas and Mindanao regions on Christmas Day, forcing more than 50,000 people to flee their homes, reports Reuters. The floods had subsided but intermittent rains continued, the agency said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he may visit the…

Manama :  Social Development Minister Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al-Asfour received His Holiness Alexios Mar Eusebius, Bishop of Calcutta diocese, accompanied by a delegation from the Church, on the occasion of their visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The minister hailed relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of India, highlighting growing joint cooperation across all fields. He affirmed  Bahrain’s unwavering commitment to promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence and respect, pointing to the diversity and pluralism of the Bahraini society, which turned the Kingdom into a distinguished civilized model. The church head and delegation expressed their thanks and gratitude…

Beijing : Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher on Friday following encouraging U.S. employment data but were headed for double-digit losses for the year. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney advanced. Oil prices edged higher. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index gained Thursday after the number of people applying for unemployment benefits rose only slightly last week despite repeated interest rate hikes to cool inflation by slowing economic activity. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.6% to 3,092.50. The Chinese benchmark is on track to end 2022 down more than 14% after the world’s second-largest economy was depressed by anti-virus…

Myanmar : A court in military-ruled Myanmar has sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a further seven years in jail after convicting her on additional corruption charges. Ms Suu Kyi, 77, was sentenced in a court session held behind closed doors on Friday. The ruling extends her prison sentence to 33 years. The Nobel laureate was previously sentenced to 26 years in prison after being found guilty of several offences, all of which she has denied. Ms Suu Kyi’s supporters and independent analysts say the numerous charges against her and her allies are an attempt to legitimise the military’s seizure of power…

Sao Paulo :  Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82. The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death. Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team. His…

Manama : In 2022, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) the Kingdom’s investment promotion agency, supported by Team Bahrain, attracted over USD1.1 billion of direct investment, a record year for the Kingdom’s investment promotion agency. The EDB exceeded the USD1 billion target set by its Board of Directors at the beginning of the year. The investments are from 88 companies and are expected to generate over 6,300 jobs in the local market over the next three years. The investments are in key sectors, including financial services, ICT, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism. Under the Economic Recovery Plan, Bahrain will continue to…

Beijing :  Archaeologists have found more than 300 tombs dating back around 4,500 years in central China’s Henan Province, which are of great significance to studying the burial system and social structure of prehistoric China. Located in the Suyang relics site in the city of Luoyang, the tomb complex covers an area of about 15,000 square meters. And all of the tombs are earth pits in a rectangular shape, according to the Luoyang Municipal Institute of Archaeology. Archaeologists have unearthed nine tombs so far, and the skeletons of 10 people have been found in the tombs. Some of the tombs…

India : Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi, 100, passed away at around 3:30 am today at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad, according to a bulletin from the hospital. She was hospitalised on Wednesday after her health deteriorated. PM Modi’s brother Somabhai Modi and other family members were also present at the residence of Heeraben Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday performed the last rites of his mother Heeraben Modi in Gandhinagar. PM Modi, who had reached Gandhinagar early this morning, consigned the mortal remains of his mother Heeraben Modi to fire…