Tag: Bahrain

  • Bahrain calls for peace conference at Gaza-focused Arab League

    Bahrain calls for peace conference at Gaza-focused Arab League

    Host Bahrain called for a Middle East peace conference Thursday at the start of an Arab League summit dominated by Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been raging in the Gaza Strip without a ceasefire in sight.

    King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was addressing fellow heads of state and government at the 22-strong grouping in the capital Manama, more than seven months into a conflict that has convulsed the region.

    “(We) call for an international conference for peace in the Middle East, in addition to supporting full recognition of the State of Palestine and accepting its membership in the United Nations,” said the king.

    It is the first time the bloc has come together since an extraordinary summit in Riyadh, the capital of neighbouring Saudi Arabia, in November that also involved leaders from the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, based in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

    At that meeting, leaders condemned Israeli forces’ “barbaric” actions in Gaza but declined to approve punitive economic and political steps against the country, despite growing anger in the region and widespread support for the Palestinian cause.

    That could change this time around as backing builds globally for a two-state solution long advocated by Arab countries, said Kuwaiti analyst Zafer al-Ajmi.

    Western public opinion has become “more inclined to support the Palestinians and lift the injustice inflicted on them” since Israel’s creation more than 70 years ago, Ajmi said.

    Meanwhile, Israel has failed to achieve its war objectives including destroying Hamas and is now mired in fighting, he said.

    Change of ‘tone’

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said nearly 500,000 people had been evacuated from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where he is insisting on going after remaining Hamas despite objections from US President Joe Biden.

    He also disputed claims that Israeli operations there would trigger a “humanitarian catastrophe”, though much of the international community remains squarely opposed to a Rafah invasion.

    Against that backdrop, and with mediator Qatar describing talks on a truce and hostage release deal as close to a stalemate, “the tone of Arab countries has changed”, Ajmi said, raising the possibility that the final declaration out of Thursday’s summit could include “binding” measures.

    The message would be especially strong coming from a summit held in Bahrain, one of two Gulf countries along with the United Arab Emirates to normalise ties with Israel in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

    Beyond the Israel-Hamas war, Arab leaders are also expected to discuss conflicts in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Syria, whose President Bashar al-Assad is due to attend after returning to the Arab fold last year.

    Attacks by Yemen’s Huthis on Red Sea shipping, which the rebels say are intended as a show of solidarity with Palestinians, could also be on the agenda, said Bahraini analyst and journalist Mahmeed al-Mahmeed.

    Bahrain joined a maritime coalition organised by Washington to counter those attacks.

    “These vital sea lanes are not only important for countries in the region, but also for the global economy,” Mahmeed said.

  • US-led coalition to patrol Red Sea against Houthi attacks

    US-led coalition to patrol Red Sea against Houthi attacks

    The United States on Monday announced a 10-nation coalition to quell Houthi missile and drone attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, with Britain, France, Bahrain and Italy among countries joining the “multinational security initiative.”

    “Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

    Iran-backed Houthi rebels have escalated attacks on tankers, cargo ships and other vessels in the Red Sea, imperiling a transit route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade.

    The security coalition, Austin said, will operate “with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.”

    It includes the United States, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain, Austin said.

    Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said earlier they had attacked two “Israeli-linked” vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza, as more companies halt transit through the troubled but vital waterway.

    The attacks on the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and another ship identified by the Houthis as the MSC Clara are the latest in a flurry of maritime incidents that are disrupting global trade in an attempt to pressure Israel over its war against Hamas militants.

    In a statement, the Yemeni rebels said they had carried out a “military operation against two ships linked to the Zionist entity” using naval drones.

    They vowed to “continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports… from navigating in the Arab and Red Seas” until more food and medicine is allowed into Gaza.

    But the Swan Atlantic’s owner, Norway’s Inventor Chemical Tankers, said in a statement the ship was carrying biofuel feedstock from France to Reunion Island.

    It said the vessel has “no Israeli link” and was managed by a Singaporean firm, adding that the Indian crew were unharmed and the vessel sustained limited damage.

    British oil giant BP became the latest to suspend transit through the Red Sea on Monday, while Taiwan shipping firm Evergreen said it was suspending its Israeli cargo shipments with immediate effect.

    Frontline, one of the world’s largest tanker companies, also said it was rerouting ships and would “only allow new business” that could be routed via South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

    That route is far longer and uses more fuel.

    The Red Sea attacks have forced insurance companies to significantly increase premiums on ships, making it uneconomical for some to transit through the Suez Canal.

    Italian-Swiss giant Mediterranean Shipping Company, France’s CMA CGM, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, Belgium’s Euronav and Denmark’s A.P Moller-Maersk — the latter accounting for 15 percent of global container freight — have all stopped using the Red Sea until further notice.

    The attacks have become “a maritime security crisis” with “commercial and economic implications in the region and beyond,” Torbjorn Soltvedt of analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft told AFP.

    Monday’s attack took place as the Pentagon chief visited Israel after a stop in Bahrain, home base of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

    “In the Red Sea, we’re leading a multinational maritime taskforce to uphold the bedrock principle of freedom of navigation. Iran’s support for Houthi attacks on commercial vessels must stop,” Austin said at a news conference.

    On Saturday, a US destroyer shot down 14 drones in the Red Sea launched from rebel-controlled areas of Yemen, the US military said.
    Britain said one of its destroyers had also brought down a suspected attack drone in the area.

    Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said neutral Oman had launched mediation efforts to safeguard shipping using the waterway.

    “Under the sponsorship of our brothers in the Sultanate of Oman, communication and discussion continue with a number of international parties regarding operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.

    The Gaza war broke out when its rulers Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,140 people and kidnapping some 250, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s military response has killed more than 19,450 people, mostly women and children.

  • Pakistanis kay liye Bahrain aur Azerbaijan jana hua asaan

    Pakistanis kay liye Bahrain aur Azerbaijan jana hua asaan

    In an effort to facilitate tourism and strengthen cultural ties, the government of Azerbaijan has launched a user-friendly online service for the issuance of e-visit visas to citizens from various countries, including Pakistan.

    This exciting development launches in November 2023, providing Pakistani tourists a hassle-free entry into Azerbaijan.

    Azerbaijan visit visa fee November 2023:

    • Standard Category: For a single-entry 30-day electronic visit visa, Pakistani tourists can avail of the standard category at a fee of $69. The processing time for visa applications in this category ranges from 3 to 5 days

    • Urgent Category: In the urgent category, the visit visa for Pakistan nationals costs $119. This option offers a swift consideration period, with visa applications processed within three to five hours

    On the other hand, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, Nationality, Passport, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has unveiled an efficient and convenient online visa application system for Pakistani nationals, offering three distinct types of visit visas.

    This new initiative aims to enhance travel experiences for visitors from Pakistan, whether they are planning a two-week vacation or a more extended stay in Bahrain.

    Visa types and application process:

    Pakistani travelers seeking to explore Bahrain’s tourism or business opportunities can now choose from the following visit visa options:

    1. Visit Visa – 2 Weeks Single Entry
    2. Visit Visa – Three Months Multiple Entry
    3. Visit Visa – One-Year Multiple Entry

    Application process

    1. Visit the official website and click on the “Apply for Visa” link on the homepage
    2. Fill out the eligibility page and proceed to view the available visa types and their respective conditions
    3. Select the desired visa type and click “Apply now”
    4. Complete the online application form as prompted, following the subsequent steps
    5. Attach the required documents, and if you are applying for multiple visas with the same credit card, use the “Submit another application” button to repeat the process
    6. Make the initial payment for the application fee using a credit card through a secure payment gateway, and keep note of the Application Reference Number(s) provided
    7. NPRA will process your application, and once approved, an email notification and a PIN will be sent to you
    8. Visit the Visa homepage and select “Pay for Application.” Provide the necessary information and enter the PIN to access your applications

    Should your application not be approved, you will receive an email containing instructions on contacting the relevant Embassy or NPRA.

    Required documents

    To complete your visa application, ensure you have the following documents:

    • A copy of your passport, including the family page and any additional information pages

    • A copy of a confirmed return air ticket

    • A copy of your hotel booking in Bahrain. If you plan to stay with a relative or friend, provide a copy of their ID reader’s printout

    • A copy of a bank statement under your name, covering the last three months with a balance of not less than the equivalent of USD 1000

    Visa fee information

    The total fee for applying for a two week long visit visa is nine Bahraini Dinar.

  • Iran’s President Raisi ‘welcomes’ invitation by Saudi king to visit Riyadh

    Iran’s President Raisi ‘welcomes’ invitation by Saudi king to visit Riyadh

    Little over a week after the two nations decided to reestablish diplomatic ties, Iran claims Saudi Arabia has extended an official invitation to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to pay a state visit.

    The Saudis have not officially confirmed the invitation, which is claimed to have arrived in a letter from King Salman.

    The conflict between the two countries has dominated the Middle East’s recent history.

    A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Jamshidi, tweeted regarding the invitation to visit Riyadh, saying Mr Raisi had welcomed it and “stressed Iran’s readiness to expand co-operation.”

    Furthermore, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of Iran, informed reporters that the two nations had agreed to conduct a meeting at the level of the foreign ministers and that three potential venues had been suggested.

    He did not specify the locations or the potential dates for the meeting.

    According to Bloomberg, the recent thaw in bilateral relations, which came as a surprise after days of negotiations mediated by China, appears to be gaining significant pace.

    Both have declared they will reopen their embassies and resume their economic and security relations within two months.

    With the failure of earlier attempts at reconciliation, many, including the US and the UN, warily welcomed this progress.

    In January 2016 after protesters surrounded its embassy in Tehran, Saudi Arabia broke ties.

    That came after Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a well-known Shia Muslim cleric who had been found guilty of crimes related to terrorism, was executed by Riyadh.

    Since then, there have frequently been high levels of tension between the Sunni- and Shia-led neighbours, with each seeing the other as a dangerous force vying for supremacy in the region.

    They have taken opposing sides in a number of local conflicts, including as the civil wars in Yemen and Syria.

    Mr. Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran hoped measures would be taken to strengthen ties with Bahrain, a close Saudi ally that cut off diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016 after Riyadh did the same.

    “We hope that some obstacles between Iran and Bahrain will be removed and we will take basic steps to reopen the embassies,” he said.

    Bahrain hasn’t reacted to the remarks, but it did earlier applaud the Saudi Arabia-Iran decision to reestablish diplomatic ties.

    Moreover, Iran has shown a desire to restart or strengthen ties with other adversaries in the Arab world, such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Israeli President visits Turkey to mend ties, Turkey calls it a ‘turning point’

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday for a one-day rare visit to Turkey in an effort to mend fractured ties between the two countries.

    Erdogan described the Israeli president’s visit as “historic” and “a turning point” in Turkish-Israeli relations. He said the country is ready to cooperate with Israel in the energy sector, revealing that the Turkish foreign and energy ministers will soon visit Israel.

    In a statement in Hebrew, Herzog said it is a great honour for both countries to lay the foundations of developing friendly relations between them.

    It is pertinent to mention that Ankara has close ties with Hamas. Despite the rare visit, Turkey has ruled out abandoning its commitment to supporting Palestinian statehood.

    Talking about Palestine, Erdogan said, “I underlined the importance we attach to the historical status of Jerusalem and the preservation of the religious identity and sanctity of Masjid Aqsa.” In response, the Israeli president said, “We must agree in advance that we will not agree on everything, that is the nature of relations with a past as rich as ours.”

    This is the first visit of the Israeli president to Ankara since 2007. In 2018, Ankara recalled its diplomats and ordered Israel’s envoy out of the country.

    The visit was made after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s interview in which he called Israel a “potential ally” of the Kingdom.

    In 2020, two Gulf countries— Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normalised ties with Israel.

  • One Pakistani dead among three casualties in Abu Dhabi attack

    Three people were killed in a suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, which involved two Indians and one Pakistani national.

    The incident happened when three petrol tanks blew up near a storage facility of an oil giant company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). A fire also erupted in a construction area at Abu Dhabi airport.

    The company released the official statement, “ADNOC is deeply saddened to confirm that three colleagues have died. A further six colleagues were injured and received immediate specialist medical care.”

    Police found small flying objects at both places and claimed that they have never witnessed such a huge attack in the peaceful country of the Middle East.

    The Foreign Ministry of UAE said, “The UAE condemns this terrorist attack by the Houthi militia on areas and civilian facilities on Emirati soil…(It) will not go unpunished.”

    It further added, “The UAE reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and criminal escalation.”

    A small number of flights were briefly stopped by Etihad Airways at the airport but after a few hours, normal operations were resumed.

    Police said, “Preliminary investigations indicate the detection of small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones, that fell in the two areas and may have caused the explosion and fire.”

    These attacks have been claimed by the Iran-backed rebel group, Houthi in Yemen.

    The Deputy Minister of Information Nasraddin Amer in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, the capital of Yemen confirmed that the rebel forces had carried out an attack. This attack was launched in reaction to the “UAE’s escalation” in two contested provinces of Yemen, Shabwa and Marib.

    The visit of the South Korean President, Moon Jae In to the UAE was also called off due to the current situation. The summit was planned between the South Korean President and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince.

    UAE is backing Saudi Arabia in a war with Yemen that has been going on for the last seven years.

    Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also condemned the attack and dubbed it as a “cowardly, terrorist” attack.

  • Man kills co-worker with slap in face

    Man kills co-worker with slap in face

    A man in Bahrain allegedly killed his bully collegue with a slap in his face.

    As per reports, in a case hearing at Bahrain’s High Criminal Court, a man from an Asian country was accused of slapping and killing a colleague after causing him permanent disability.

    A medical report was submitted in court from the hospital where the victim went. The report stated that  the victim died after being slapped hard in the face.

    The suspect who is an employee in an industrial company told the court that while he was on duty, collecting weeds and dirt accumulated in the workplace, an annoying co-worker along with a few others bullied him.

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    “The annoying co-worker asked me to work hard and began to give orders to me. His behaviour was irritating. I did not like it because he was just bullying me as he was not in charge and I was doing hard physical effort,” the accused told the court.

    The defendant was charged with assaulting and inflicting injuries on the victim and causing him a permanent disability estimated at 100 per cent, without intending to do so, as indicated in the papers.

    The trial will continue on June 16 after a lawyer is assigned to defend the accused.

    A neurologist told Gulf News, “The face has a huge array of nerve endings, contains around 40 muscles and 14 bones and has sensitive skin, the cartilage of the nose, joint of the jaw and eyes. A hard slap cannot only damage any of these parts but also affect the blood flow from the heart to the brain.”

  • 28 passengers on one flight test positive for coronavirus

    Twenty-eight passengers, coming from Bahrain to Peshawar, tested positive for coronavirus at the Bacha Khan International Airport on Tuesday. 

    The airport’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Obaid-ur-Rehman Abbasi said rapid antigen tests were conducted on 130 passengers who arrived at the airport from Bahrain. 

    “The passengers who tested positive for the virus have been handed over to the district administration,” he said, adding that various areas of the airport had also been disinfected after the development.

    A week earlier, the CAA had noted, “with grave concern”, that passengers arriving in Pakistan from mostly Gulf countries, were testing positive for coronavirus.

    “Upon conducting an investigation into the issue, it has been found that passengers travelled to Pakistan using fake PCR negative test results and endangered not only passengers travelling with them, but also undermined the intense efforts being made at the national level to curb the spread of Covid-19,” said the authority, in a notification that was released on May 10. 

    “The onus of contributing towards this national cause does not fall on the authority alone but is a responsibility that has to be shared by all concerned stakeholders including airline operators,” the notification stated.

    The development is a worrying one as Pakistan, like many countries around the world, continues to struggle with the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The current positive cases in the country stand at 882,928 with a positivity rate of 8.2%.

  • Three-year-old girl swallows 51 magnets

    Three-year-old girl swallows 51 magnets

    A medical team at Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) removed 51 magnets from a three-year-old girl’s stomach.

    As per reports, the child is said to have swallowed the magnets while playing. Doctors extracted the magnets in a three-and-half hour-long surgery, repairing multiple tears in her stomach and intestines.

    The child was sent home after seven days of recovery in hospital.

  • Coronavirus: One member of a family infects 16 others at an iftar gathering

    Coronavirus: One member of a family infects 16 others at an iftar gathering

    An iftar gathering in Bahrain ended up with 16 family members contracting the novel coronavirus from one sick relative.

    The family members were infected because they did not follow precautionary measures including avoiding gatherings, wearing masks and social distancing, the ministry said. The infected person infected all other family members, including parents, siblings and some children.

    “It is everyone’s responsibility to adhere to guidelines and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus,” the ministry said.

    World Health Organization (WHO) has urged people to avoid gatherings and maintain social distancing of three to six feet from anyone who is coughing or sneezing to control the spread of COVID-19.

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    “When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain a virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease,” the organization’s website states.