TWITTER SPORTS @newsofbahrain WORLD 6 Iran sentences British-Iranian aid worker to a year in jail INSTAGRAM Saudi Arabia, UAE /newsofbahrain 27 and Bahrain to table LINKEDIN TUESDAY newsofbahrain APRIL, 2021 regional racing talks 210 FILS WHATSAPP in 2021 3844 4692 ISSUE NO. 8819 Racing leaders in the FACEBOOK three Gulf states believe /nobmedia there is room for a more MAIL coordinated approach to [email protected] the sport in the region WEBSITE | P12 newsofbahrain.com ‘Nomadland’ wins big at pandemic Oscars as Zhao makes history 10 CELEBS BUSINESS 5 LuLu-Credimax Danat credit card brings Ramadan shopping joy HM King, HRH Prince Salman receive Last update - 9:00 pm cable of thanks from Saudi leadership 26 April 2021 Individuals vaccinated HM the King HRH Prince Salman King Salman HRH Prince Mohammed (First dose) (Second dose) TDT | Manama of thanks from the Custodi- HRH Prince Salman re - an of the Two Holy Mosques ceived a similar cable from is Majesty King Hamad King Salman bin Abdulaziz the Saudi Crown Prince, Dep- Hbin Isa Al Khalifa and His Al Saud, in reply to their con- uty Prime Minister and Min- Royal Highness Prince Sal- dolences over the passing of ister of Defense His Royal man bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the HH Prince Bandar bin Faisal Highness Prince Mohammed Crown Prince and Prime Min- bin Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Salman bin Abdulaziz ister, received yesterday cables Al Saud. Al Saud. Bahrain HRH Prince Salman issues Labour Day cuts holiday circular military Heeding call for help TDT | Manama spending is Royal Highness by 9.8% Bahrain sending medical equipment and oxygen to India in a solid show of support HPrince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the last year Crown Prince and Prime P2 HRH the Crown Minister, yesterday issued • a circular concerning the Prince and Prime 2021 International Work- Minister chairs weekly ers’ Day. Cabinet meeting Under the circular, Min- held remotely istries and public institu- tions will close on Sunday 2 May 2021, in observance TDT | Manama of the public holiday, which falls on Saturday 1 May. tanding side by side as a HRH Prince Salman also BAHRAIN friend and partner, Bahrain issued Edict (22) of 2021, ap- Shas joined international pointing representatives of efforts to help India in its fight the Government of Bahrain against the coronavirus (COV- to the Board of Directors of ACTIVE CASES ID-19). King Fahd Causeway Au- As the country suffers critical thority (KFCA). Under the 10460 oxygen shortages amid a devas- edict, Customs President DEATHS tating surge in COVID cases, the Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al HRH Prince Salman meets the Cabinet online Khalifa serves as Vice Chair- 625 man of the KFCA Board for a Kingdom is sending medical following the deaths of COV- is now coordinating a mul- three-year term. DISCHARGED equipment and oxygen to India. ID-19 patients. ti-pronged approach to ramp up Transportation and Tel- The Cabinet, during yester- The US, UK and other Euro- oxygen availability from abroad, ecommunications Ministry 161491 day’s weekly remote meeting pean Union members, as well as including tapping embassies in Undersecretary for Trans- NEW CASES KNOW WHAT chaired by His Royal Highness other Middle Eastern countries, countries where they can be portation and Post, Sami Prince Salman bin Hamad Al have begun sending ventilators sourced, speaking to govern- Abdulla Bouhazaa, Bahrain 1206 Khalifa, the Crown Prince and and oxygen concentrator devic- ments to waive regulatory de- Chamber of Commerce and Prime Minister, expressed Bah- es to India. lays, and ensuring no disrup- Industry (BCCI), First Deputy The US, UK and other European rain’s support to India in its time The global response to India’s tions in supply chains. Chairman, Khalid Moham- 210 fils (includes VAT) Union members, as well as other On the occasion of World Day LL Middle Eastern countries, have of need. call for help comes more than med Najeebi, Bank Chief begun sending ventilators and In a show of solidarity with two weeks after oxygen short- for Safety and Health at Work, Executive Officer, Mohamed oxygen concentrator devices to the people of India, the Cabinet ages were reported across the the Cabinet stressed the impor- Rasheed Almaraj, are ap- India. extended sincere condolences country. tance of occupational health and pointed as KFCA board mem- to its government and citizens The Indian government safety across workplaces. bers for a three-year term. TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021 02 Bahrain cuts military spending by 9.8% last year TDT | Manama was about $778 billion, repre- senting an increase of 4.4% over ahrain was among the 2019. As it is the largest military Middle Eastern coun - spending in the world, the US ac- Btries that reduced military counted for 39% of total military spending last year. KNOW WHAT spending last year. According to the data released China’s total military spend- by the Stockholm International ing, the second highest in the Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) world, is estimated at $252 bil- yesterday, the Kingdom cut its While total global military spending lion in 2020. This represents an military spending by 9.8%. rose to $1.981 trillion in 2020, an increase of 1.9% from 2019 and While total global military increase of 2.6% compared to 2019, 76% over the decade 2011-2020. spending rose to $1.981 trillion a 6.5% drop – equivalent to $143 Russian military spending in- in 2020, an increase of 2.6% billion – was recorded in the Middle creased by 2.5% in 2020 to $61.7 compared to 2019, a 6.5% drop East region. billion. – equivalent to $143 billion – With a total of $59.2 billion, was recorded in the Middle East itary burden were among the the UK became the fifth-largest region. 15 biggest spenders in 2020, spender in 2020. UK military The top five military spend- among them Saudi Arabia (+0.6 spending was 2.9% higher than ers last year were the US, Chi- percentage points), Russia (+0.5 in 2019, but 4.2% lower than it na, India, Russia and the UK, in percentage points), Israel (+0.4 was in 2011. that order, and together they percentage points), and the US In addition to China, India accounted for 62% of total global (+0.3 percentage point). ($72.9 billion), Japan ($49.1 bil- military spending. China’s mili- The 2.6% increase in global lion), South Korea ($45.7 bil - tary spending also grew for the military spending comes in a lion), and Australia ($27.5 bil- 26th consecutive year. The pandemic has a big impact on global military spending year in which global GDP has lion) were the largest military The SIPRI report also shows shrunk by 4.4% (according to the spenders in the Asia and Oceania the combined military spending the Petroleum Exporting Coun- tary spending last year. 10%, and Kuwait by 5.9%. Angola International Monetary Fund), region, and the four countries in- for 11 Middle Eastern countries tries (OPEC) nine-member states Aside from Bahrain, a non- decreased by 12%. largely due to the economic im- creased their military spending and oil-exporting countries. for which the institute obtained OPEC oil exporter, Saudi Arabia The countries that witnessed pacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. between 2019, 2020 and 2011- Eight of the Organization of its numbers reduced their mili- reduced its military spending by the largest increase in the mil- US military spending in 2020 2020 decade. Al Saleh hails legislative-executive cooperation TDT | Manama Al Khalifa, said Shura Council legislative and executive branch- praise of the ongoing strong col- Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh. es of government. laboration between the execu- ooperation with the govern- He reiterated unwavering sup- He paid tribute to His Roy- tive and legislative authorities. Cment reflects commitment port to the reform project led by al Highness Prince Salman bin Chairing the weekly Cabinet to implement the directives of HM the King, stressing contin- Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Cooperation session remotely yesterday, HRH His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa ued coordination between the Prince and Prime Minister, hail- between the the Crown Prince and Prime two branches is Minister reiterated the govern- the cornerstone ment’s commitment to facilitat- to further ing further cooperation. In a statement, Al Saleh high- achievements in the lighted legislative work strides, prosperous era of supported by HM the King and HM the King the government’s keenness on ALI BIN SALEH AL SALEH, SHURA expanding cooperation. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN He stressed the importance of HIGH QUALITY legislative-executive meetings in bolstering Bahrain’s democratic process, describing cooperation DENTAL CARE between the two branches as the ing his directives to harness all national goals. cornerstone to further achieve- efforts to enact the constitu- He valued the HRH the Crown ments in the prosperous era of tional principles and achieve Prince and Prime Minister’s HM the King. Prime Minister’s Office Fellowship holds roundtable discussions Orthodontic Treatment Root Canal Treatment Laser Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry Damon System Braces TMJ Pain Therapy Zoom Whitening & Bleaching Hollywood Smile Children’s Dentistry Oral Surgery & Wisdom Tooth Removal DR. SAJI C. ABRAHAM DR. JAISE JOY DR. SARUN THOMAS DR. RAKHEE BALAKRISHNAN Consultant - Orthodontics & Specialist - Specialist - Conservative Dentistry & GP - Dentist Dentofacial Orthopedics Preventive Dentistry Endodontics DR. SHRUTI MENON PAL DR. SALINI GOPALAN SUDHA DR. ALI ALHAIKI GP - Dentist GP - Dentist GP - Dentist The sixth intake of the Prime Minister’s Office Fellowship conducted a series of roundtables with senior government officials and decision-makers across various government agencies. The roundtables were held to ensure the fellows gain experience, further hone their leadership skills, and contribute to the Kingdom’s development, in line with the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.