This campaign of relentless bombings by the state of Israel on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has put any possibility of normalisation of ties between Israel and its Arab neighbours into Cold Storage. Bahrain has now expelled the Israeli ambassador.

Bahrain cuts economic ties with Israel and expels ambassador

Bahrain&nbsp;on Thursday (Nov 2)&nbsp;recalled its ambassador to&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and cut all economic ties with the country, according to a statement on the website of Bahrain’s lower house of parliament.

The move comes amid Israel's relentless&nbsp;war in Gaza.

“The House of Representatives confirms that the Israeli ambassador to the kingdom of Bahrain has left Bahrain, and the kingdom of Bahrain has decided to recall the Bahraini ambassador from Israel to the country. Economic relations with Israel have also been halted,” the parliament statement said.

“The parliament affirms that the continuation of war and military operations and the continuing Israeli escalation in light of the lack of respect for international humanitarian law prompt it to demand more decisions and measures that preserve the lives of innocent people and civilians in Gaza and all Palestinian areas," it added.

A source cited by The National confirmed that the statement was accurate.

No official confirmation to cut&nbsp;diplomatic ties has been announced by Bahrain's government.

Bahrain formally established ties with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abrahamic Accords. Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday (Oct 30) in Ramallah, conveyed a message of “solidarity and support”.

He urged Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-a-graveyard-where-parenthood-is-a-curse-israel-hamas-war-claims-lives-of-400-children-every-day-654341">Also read |&nbsp;Gaza a 'graveyard' where parenthood is a 'curse': Israel-Hamas war claims lives of 400+ children every day</a>

<h2>Jordan withdraws diplomat</h2>

On Wednesday (Nov 1), Jordan had recalled its diplomat from Israel.

Amman has said it made the move in protest of Jerusalem’s bombardment of Gaza and the subsequent humanitarian crisis.

The diplomat would only return to Tel Aviv if Israel halted its war on Gaza&nbsp;and ended “the humanitarian crisis it has caused,” foreign minister Ayman Safadi said.

Jordan shares its&nbsp;border with the Israel-occupied West Bank as well as Saudi Arabia.

When Israel first came into existence on May 14, 1948, it came under attack from several nations, including Jordan.

Jordan, in 1994, became the second Arab nation to sign a peace deal with Israel, after Egypt did so at the historic Camp David accords.

Also watch |&nbsp;Joe Biden interrupted by a rabbi demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during campaign event

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-interrupted-by-a-rabbi-demanding-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-campaign-event-654387/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>What is Israel's reaction?</h2>

Israel said it regretted the Jordanian government’s decision, saying it was focused on waging a war against the militant Hamas group after their surprise attack on October 7.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and Jordan on Friday (Nov. 3)—his second trip to the region since the war first began.

Blinken's visit will not only solidify the US' support for Israel but also ensure a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Bahrain on Thursday (Nov 2) recalled its ambassador to Israel and cut all economic ties with the country, according to a statement on the website of Bahrain’s lower house of parliament.

Bahrain on Thursday (Nov 2) recalled its ambassador to Israel and cut all economic ties with the country, according to a statement on the website of Bahrain’s lower house of parliament. The move comes amid Israel's relentless war in Gaza. “The House of Representatives confirms that the Israeli ambassador to the kingdom of Bahrain has left Bahrain, and the kingdom of Bahrain has decided to recall the Bahraini ambassador from Israel to the country. Economic relations with Israel have also been halted,” the parliament statement said. “The parliament affirms that the continuation of war and military operations and the continuing Israeli escalation in light of the lack of respect for international humanitarian law prompt it to demand more decisions and measures that preserve the lives of innocent people and civilians in Gaza and all Palestinian areas," it added. A source cited by The National confirmed that the statement was accurate. No official confirmation to cut diplomatic ties has been announced by Bahrain's government. Bahrain formally established ties with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abrahamic Accords. Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday (Oct 30) in Ramallah, conveyed a message of “solidarity and support”. He urged Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Also read | Gaza a 'graveyard' where parenthood is a 'curse': Israel-Hamas war claims lives of 400+ children every day Jordan withdraws diplomat On Wednesday (Nov 1), Jordan had recalled its diplomat from Israel. Amman has said it made the move in protest of Jerusalem’s bombardment of Gaza and the subsequent humanitarian crisis. The diplomat would only return to Tel Aviv if Israel halted its war on Gaza and ended “the humanitarian crisis it has caused,” foreign minister Ayman Safadi said. Jordan shares its border with the Israel-occupied West Bank as well as Saudi Arabia. When Israel first came into existence on May 14, 1948, it came under attack from several nations, including Jordan. Jordan, in 1994, became the second Arab nation to sign a peace deal with Israel, after Egypt did so at the historic Camp David accords. Also watch | Joe Biden interrupted by a rabbi demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during campaign event What is Israel's reaction? Israel said it regretted the Jordanian government’s decision, saying it was focused on waging a war against the militant Hamas group after their surprise attack on October 7. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and Jordan on Friday (Nov. 3)—his second trip to the region since the war first began. Blinken's visit will not only solidify the US' support for Israel but also ensure a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

After Jordan, Bahrain recalls ambassador to Israel, cuts economic ties

An Indian-origin doctor working at a hospital in Bahrain was sacked after his alleged anti-Palestine posts on X triggered a backlash from users. The Royal Bahrain Hospital announced&nbsp; on Thursday (Oct 19) that they have decided to terminate Dr Sunil Rao with “immediate effect” for posting “tweets on social media platforms that are offensive to our society”.&nbsp;

In a series of posts on X, Rao seemingly supported Israel amid its ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, his posts went viral on the microblogging platform after another user posted screenshots and tagged Bahraini officials along with his profile on the hospital’s website.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is a hindu doctor working in Bahrain🇧🇭. 
He believes that Islam is a babrbaric religion, Muslims are attacking Israel and Palestinian must be destroyed. 
Hello <a href="https://twitter.com/moi_bahrain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@moi_bahrain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iGABahrain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iGABahrain</a> please take note. <a href="https://t.co/hTcDY3Auq9">pic.twitter.com/hTcDY3Auq9</a>
— Tanvir’s Backup account. (@T_A_backup) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_A_backup/status/1714718964276773349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He may also face legal action since Bahrain's interior ministry in a brief statement on X said, "Combating cybercrime: Arresting a person who posted tweets that insult religion and negatively affect the security and safety of society," without giving any further details.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-pledges-humanitarian-aid-to-palestinians-in-talks-with-palestinian-authority-president-abbas-648839">Modi pledges humanitarian aid to Palestinians in talks with President Abbas</a>

<h2>Royal Bahrain Hospital’s response</h2>

The hospital belongs to the Indian-based KIMS Global and is headquartered in the city of Trivandrum, Kerala, with dozens of&nbsp;hospitals and medical centres across India and several Gulf countries. It soon took action against Rao and decided to fire him.&nbsp;

“It has come to our attention that Dr Sunil Rao who is working as a Specialist in Internal Medicine has posted tweets on social media that are offensive to our society,” said the Royal Bahrain Hospital, in a statement on X.&nbsp;

It added, “We would like to confirm that his tweets and ideology are personal and do not reflect the opinion and values of the hospital. This is a violation of our code of conduct and we have taken the necessary legal actions and his service has been terminated with immediate effect.”

<h2>Rao’s apology</h2>

Prior to the hospital’s response, Rao took to X and said, “I profoundly regret my words &amp; actions.” He added, “I would like to apologize for the statement I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor all lives matter.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sunak-wants-israel-to-win-condemns-nazi-hamas-while-increasing-aid-for-palestinians-648834">&nbsp;Sunak wants Israel to 'win', condemns 'Nazi' Hamas while increasing aid for Palestinians</a>

“I respect this country its people and its religion deeply as I have been here for past 10 years,” said Rao.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I would like to apologized about the statement that I posted on this platform. 
It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor all lives matter. I respect this country its people and its religion deeply as I have been here for past 10 years. 
كلماتي و افعالي
— SUNIL J RAO (@shilpasunil_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/shilpasunil_rao/status/1714930823961489775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to screenshots of his profile on the hospital’s website shared with the series of posts, Rao specialises in internal medicine with clinical expertise in Diabetes Mellitus type 1 and type 2, Thyroid disorders, hypertension, and so on.&nbsp;

As per his X profile, he is a graduate of Andhra Medical College in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam and did his MD from Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru, Karnataka.&nbsp;

Notably, Rao’s profile from the Royal Bahrain Hospital’s website has since been deleted.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

An Indian-origin doctor working at a hospital in Bahrain was sacked after his alleged anti-Palestine posts on X triggered a backlash from users. The Royal Bahrain Hospital announced on Thursday (Oct 19) that they have decided to terminate Dr Sunil Rao with “immediate effect” for posting “tweets on social media platforms that are offensive to our society”.

An Indian-origin doctor working at a hospital in Bahrain was sacked after his alleged anti-Palestine posts on X triggered a backlash from users. The Royal Bahrain Hospital announced on Thursday (Oct 19) that they have decided to terminate Dr Sunil Rao with “immediate effect” for posting “tweets on social media platforms that are offensive to our society”. In a series of posts on X, Rao seemingly supported Israel amid its ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, his posts went viral on the microblogging platform after another user posted screenshots and tagged Bahraini officials along with his profile on the hospital’s website. This is a hindu doctor working in Bahrain🇧🇭. He believes that Islam is a babrbaric religion, Muslims are attacking Israel and Palestinian must be destroyed. Hello @moi_bahrain @iGABahrain please take note. pic.twitter.com/hTcDY3Auq9 — Tanvir’s Backup account. (@T_A_backup) October 18, 2023 × He may also face legal action since Bahrain's interior ministry in a brief statement on X said, "Combating cybercrime: Arresting a person who posted tweets that insult religion and negatively affect the security and safety of society," without giving any further details. ALSO READ | Modi pledges humanitarian aid to Palestinians in talks with President Abbas Royal Bahrain Hospital’s response The hospital belongs to the Indian-based KIMS Global and is headquartered in the city of Trivandrum, Kerala, with dozens of hospitals and medical centres across India and several Gulf countries. It soon took action against Rao and decided to fire him. “It has come to our attention that Dr Sunil Rao who is working as a Specialist in Internal Medicine has posted tweets on social media that are offensive to our society,” said the Royal Bahrain Hospital, in a statement on X. It added, “We would like to confirm that his tweets and ideology are personal and do not reflect the opinion and values of the hospital. This is a violation of our code of conduct and we have taken the necessary legal actions and his service has been terminated with immediate effect.” Rao’s apology Prior to the hospital’s response, Rao took to X and said, “I profoundly regret my words & actions.” He added, “I would like to apologize for the statement I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor all lives matter.” ALSO READ | Sunak wants Israel to 'win', condemns 'Nazi' Hamas while increasing aid for Palestinians “I respect this country its people and its religion deeply as I have been here for past 10 years,” said Rao. I would like to apologized about the statement that I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor all lives matter. I respect this country its people and its religion deeply as I have been here for past 10 years. كلماتي و افعالي — SUNIL J RAO (@shilpasunil_rao) October 19, 2023 × According to screenshots of his profile on the hospital’s website shared with the series of posts, Rao specialises in internal medicine with clinical expertise in Diabetes Mellitus type 1 and type 2, Thyroid disorders, hypertension, and so on. As per his X profile, he is a graduate of Andhra Medical College in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam and did his MD from Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Notably, Rao’s profile from the Royal Bahrain Hospital’s website has since been deleted. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian-origin doctor at Royal Bahrain Hospital sacked over anti-Palestine posts

Hundreds of prisoners locked up in Bahrain have initiated a hunger strike citing alleged human rights violations, a UK-based rights group has revealed.

Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said Friday (August 18), “At least 500 prisoners&nbsp;were taking part in the hunger strike against what they call inhumane prison conditions.”

As per the group, prison inmates are confined to their cells 23 hours a day and are even restricted from practising their religion.&nbsp;

At the centre of the controversy is the Jau prison, where those dissidents are held who were detained following the pro-democracy protests in 2011.

The hunger strike began on August 9 and has escalated as more inmates join the movement.

<h2>What are the demands of&nbsp;prisoners?</h2>

A statement released by the outlawed Bahraini opposition party Al-Wefaq quoted the prisoners as saying that they needed increased time outside the cells.

Other demands include permission to hold prayers in congregation at the prison mosque, changes to constraints on family visits and improvements in education facilities.

“These are not frivolous demands, but necessary ones required for basic human life,” the prisoners said.

<h2>US expresses concerns</h2>

In response to inquiries about the situation in Bahrain, Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed concerns regarding certain reports during a meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdellatif al-Zayani on July 20.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Iranian Press: Bahrain belongs to Iran

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-iranian-press-bahrain-belongs-to-iran-518529/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Patel said, “We are aware of and concerned on the reports of this hunger strike ... We urge Bahrain to continue to make progress on criminal justice reforms and ensure human rights standards are upheld."

<h2>Activists say US enabling atrocities</h2>

Observers argue that the ruling monarchy in Bahrain heavily relies on their Western allies, particularly the US, and successive US administrations have contributed to the Bahraini regime's unchecked human rights violations by not exerting pressure on the government.

During the initial suppression of the 2011 uprising, Bahrain faced criticism from the US, leading former President Barack Obama to enforce a four-year arms embargo.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-actress-handed-jail-sentence-for-not-wearing-hijab-617566">Also read:&nbsp;Iranian actress handed two-year jail for not wearing hijab, ordered treatment for `mental disorder`</a>

However, critics point out that despite the initial criticism, the emphasis on Bahrain's human rights issues waned during Obama's tenure and even more so under his successor, Donald Trump.

Donald Trump notably embraced Bahrain, earning praise for its recognition of Israel as part of the Abraham Accords.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Hundreds of prisoners locked up in Bahrain have initiated a hunger strike citing alleged human rights violations, a UK-based rights group has revealed. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said Friday (August 18), “At least 500 prisoners were taking part in the hunger strike against what they call inhumane prison conditions.

Hundreds of prisoners locked up in Bahrain have initiated a hunger strike citing alleged human rights violations, a UK-based rights group has revealed. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said Friday (August 18), “At least 500 prisoners were taking part in the hunger strike against what they call inhumane prison conditions.” As per the group, prison inmates are confined to their cells 23 hours a day and are even restricted from practising their religion. At the centre of the controversy is the Jau prison, where those dissidents are held who were detained following the pro-democracy protests in 2011. The hunger strike began on August 9 and has escalated as more inmates join the movement. What are the demands of prisoners? A statement released by the outlawed Bahraini opposition party Al-Wefaq quoted the prisoners as saying that they needed increased time outside the cells. Other demands include permission to hold prayers in congregation at the prison mosque, changes to constraints on family visits and improvements in education facilities. “These are not frivolous demands, but necessary ones required for basic human life,” the prisoners said. US expresses concerns In response to inquiries about the situation in Bahrain, Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed concerns regarding certain reports during a meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdellatif al-Zayani on July 20. Watch: Gravitas: Iranian Press: Bahrain belongs to Iran × Patel said, “We are aware of and concerned on the reports of this hunger strike ... We urge Bahrain to continue to make progress on criminal justice reforms and ensure human rights standards are upheld." Activists say US enabling atrocities Observers argue that the ruling monarchy in Bahrain heavily relies on their Western allies, particularly the US, and successive US administrations have contributed to the Bahraini regime's unchecked human rights violations by not exerting pressure on the government. During the initial suppression of the 2011 uprising, Bahrain faced criticism from the US, leading former President Barack Obama to enforce a four-year arms embargo. Also read: Iranian actress handed two-year jail for not wearing hijab, ordered treatment for `mental disorder` However, critics point out that despite the initial criticism, the emphasis on Bahrain's human rights issues waned during Obama's tenure and even more so under his successor, Donald Trump. Donald Trump notably embraced Bahrain, earning praise for its recognition of Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bahrain: Hundreds of prisoners on hunger strike over inhumane living conditions

Hawra Al Jufairi's story is one of hope. She broke barriers in Bahrain and became the Gulf state's first female sailor. But her journey was not so easy. She faced multiple hurdles, from her family to society. Ghadi Francis tells you more.

Bahrain's first woman sailor

The Iranian Navy Commander declared the plan to join a naval Alliance during a televised program, albeit the specifics of the alliance are unknown. Iran is reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar as well as on the formation of a naval alliance. India and Pakistan will also be part of the alliance.

Iran floats new regional naval alliance in West Asia

Iran: New naval alliance will include India & Pakistan

Bahrain, a country famous for F1 races and luxury cars, has a historical treasure that not many are aware of. The country has a mosque with roots dating back to thousands of years, from the early days of islam. Ananya Dutta takes you through the minarets that worshippers claim emits a sense of inner peace.

Centuries-old Bahrain mosque stands the test of time

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Monday announced it had executed two Bahraini men after convicting them of having ties to a militant group. The kingdom said the men were part of a group that was looking to destabilise the two Mideast nations.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Monday announced it had executed two Bahraini men after convicting them of having ties to a militant group. The kingdom said the men were part of a group that was looking to destabilise the two Mideast nations. The executed men have been identified as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer. They were apprehended by the Saudi authorities in May 2015 and sent to solitary confinement for three-and-a-half months. After a court trial, the Specialised Criminal Court sentenced them to death in October 2021. According to the Saudi Press Agency, they were tried on terrorism-related charges over the smuggling of explosive materials into Saudi Arabia and participation in anti-government protests in Bahrain. ALSO READ | In a rare case, Saudi Arabia executes man during the holy month of Ramadan Amnesty condemns the conviction Amnesty International had previously criticised the sentencing, saying the two men did not receive adequate representation throughout the legal process. “Jaafar and Sadeq had no access to legal representation throughout their pre-trial detention and interrogation. According to court documents, they told the court that they were tortured and that their so-called confessions were extracted under duress," the rights group said in a statement. “In upholding these death sentences, Saudi Arabia’s judicial system has yet again displayed a chilling disregard for human rights. If the King ratifies their death sentences, their execution will constitute an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life," it added. Kingdom and increased instances of executions The kingdom has been infamous for its heavy-handedness in dealing with crime and terrorism charges. Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's attempts to showcase a liberal side of Saudi Arabia to the world, the kingdom's capital punishment record paints a different picture. Ever since taking over the reins in 2015, more than 1,000 death sentences have been implemented under his regime. Since the beginning of the month, a total of nine people have been executed in the country. Cumulatively, 40 executions have taken place in Saudi Arabia in 2023. WATCH | Largest mass execution in recent memory: Saudi Arabia executes 81 men in one day × The death penalty is permitted in Saudi Arabia for crimes such as rape, murder, sedition, sorcery and drug trafficking. Last year in March, Saudi invited international attention after it executed 81 men in a single day for ‘multiple heinous crimes’, including terrorism. According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia stands fifth in the world in terms of the highest number of executions. The other four are China, Iran, Egypt and Iraq. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Saudi Arabia executes two Bahraini men on terrorism charges: Report

Renowned for its natural pearls, Bahrain is looking to revive its age-old industry – once the backbone of the country’s economy. How is the country coping with the challenge and what hurdles is it facing? Ghadi Francis gets you the story on The West Asia Post.

Bahrain's bid to preserve Pearl industry

An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala,&nbsp;for attempting to smuggle gold.&nbsp;Shafi Sharaf, a&nbsp;Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms. He intended to enter the green customs clearing lane, which is for travellers without any dutiable goods to report while hiding the gold in his shirt sleeves, as reported by ANI.&nbsp;

The Customs Preventive Commissionerate, however, received confidential information that the Air India cabin crew member of the Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service was carrying gold.

Based on the tip, Sharaf was detained at Kochi Airport. He had wrapped the gold paste over his arms, as seen in a picture released by ANI.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-meet-shaliza-dhami-first-woman-officer-to-lead-combat-unit-in-iaf-570238">India: Meet Shaliza Dhami, first woman officer to lead combat unit in IAF</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kochi | Air India cabin crew Shafi, a native of Wayanad, was arrested at Kochi Airport for smuggling 1,487 gms of gold. The cabin crew was of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service. Further interrogation underway: Customs Preventive Commissionerate <a href="https://t.co/1nxVzF2fA7">pic.twitter.com/1nxVzF2fA7</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1633491275453177857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The accused landed in Kochi from Bahrain at approximately 8.30 p.m., according to Jagran News. Less than two hours later, at about 10.20 pm, he was taken into custody by the customs preventive wing.

Earlier, gold bars valued at Rs 3.32 crore (INR 33.2 million) were seized at Chennai International Airport from two passengers, one of whom was a citizen of Sri Lanka, who were detained by the customs officials.

Acting on specific information, the authorities detained two travellers who landed in Chennai from Singapore on Tuesday. They found 68 gold bars&nbsp;weighing 6.8 kg&nbsp;hidden in their luggage.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Indian PM Modi &amp; his Australian counterpart visit the world's largest cricket stadium&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-modi-australian-counterpart-visit-the-worlds-largest-cricket-stadium-details-570213/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Chennai Customs in a tweet said, "Based on Intel, 2 pax who arrived from Singapore by AI-347 and 6E-52 were intercepted by Customs on 07.03.23. On search of their baggage, gold totally weighing 6.8 kg valued at&nbsp;₹&nbsp;3.32 crore was recovered/ seized under the CA,1962. Pax were arrested and further investigation is on."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala, for attempting to smuggle gold. Shafi Sharaf, a Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms.

An Air India crew member was detained in Kerala, for attempting to smuggle gold. Shafi Sharaf, a Wayanad native, had 1,487 gm of gold paste wrapped around his forearms. He intended to enter the green customs clearing lane, which is for travellers without any dutiable goods to report while hiding the gold in his shirt sleeves, as reported by ANI. The Customs Preventive Commissionerate, however, received confidential information that the Air India cabin crew member of the Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service was carrying gold. Based on the tip, Sharaf was detained at Kochi Airport. He had wrapped the gold paste over his arms, as seen in a picture released by ANI. ALSO READ | India: Meet Shaliza Dhami, first woman officer to lead combat unit in IAF Kochi | Air India cabin crew Shafi, a native of Wayanad, was arrested at Kochi Airport for smuggling 1,487 gms of gold. The cabin crew was of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi service. Further interrogation underway: Customs Preventive Commissionerate pic.twitter.com/1nxVzF2fA7 — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2023 × The accused landed in Kochi from Bahrain at approximately 8.30 p.m., according to Jagran News. Less than two hours later, at about 10.20 pm, he was taken into custody by the customs preventive wing. Earlier, gold bars valued at Rs 3.32 crore (INR 33.2 million) were seized at Chennai International Airport from two passengers, one of whom was a citizen of Sri Lanka, who were detained by the customs officials. Acting on specific information, the authorities detained two travellers who landed in Chennai from Singapore on Tuesday. They found 68 gold bars weighing 6.8 kg hidden in their luggage. ALSO WATCH | Indian PM Modi & his Australian counterpart visit the world's largest cricket stadium Chennai Customs in a tweet said, "Based on Intel, 2 pax who arrived from Singapore by AI-347 and 6E-52 were intercepted by Customs on 07.03.23. On search of their baggage, gold totally weighing 6.8 kg valued at ₹ 3.32 crore was recovered/ seized under the CA,1962. Pax were arrested and further investigation is on." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India cabin crew caught smuggling over 1.4 kg gold at Kochi airport, probe underway

During the first visit by an Israeli head of state to the tiny Gulf nation, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. After the two nations' diplomatic relations were normalised in 2020, Herzog travelled there on Sunday.

WION Dispatch: Israel's President Herzog visits Bahrain

President Herzog meets Bahrain officials, becomes first Prez to visit the country

Disgraced British royal Prince Andrew recently embarked on a 'secret' visit to Bahrain to meet the royal family. The Duke of York reportedly had the agenda of securing the position of intermediary between the gulf nation and the UK.

Disgraced British royal Prince Andrew recently embarked on a 'secret' visit to Bahrain to meet the royal family. The Duke of York reportedly had the agenda of securing the position of intermediary between the gulf nation and the UK. The 62-year-old former royal was charted to the destination on a private jet provided by a Swiss billionaire, according to a report by Metro. Andrew is believed to have stayed at a five-star luxury property which was all paid for by the Bahrain royal family members. The report added that Andrew is looking to leverage his experience of working as the UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. This was his first visit outside Britain since 2019, the same year when convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein died. However, there is no public record of the trip as Andrew is not a royal anymore. Read more: Prince Andrew’s return to public life is jarring for Jeffrey Epstein victims Andrew, through this new 'supposed' portfolio, is attempting to work the oil-rich states to provide more of the precious commodity to the West and especially the UK. The publication added that "there are people there who have been loyal to the Queen’s son and have deep pockets" and could help Andrew chalk a turnaround. Notably, Prince Andrew, tenth in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's death lost his military patronage and right to use the 'His Royal Highness' (HRH) title after paying Virginia Giuffre a monetary settlement after she accused him of sexual assault, a charge he disputed. WATCH | Gravitas: Prince Andrew stripped of all royal title × Andrew was involved in close proximity with Jeffrey Epstein and his child trafficking empire. Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005. After relatively remaining in the shadows following the expose, the prince reappeared in the public eye during Queen Elizabeth's vigil. His appearance brought scathing criticism as many believed that Andrew was able to give a slip to the authorities, owing to his privileged background. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Disgraced royal Prince Andrew makes a 'secret' trip to Bahrain

The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its&nbsp; parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers.&nbsp;Although the interior ministry did not specify which websites were hacked, neither Bahrain's official government website nor that of the national Bahrain News Agency were accessible online. Later, even after the news agency's website had been restored, access to Bahrain's election website from overseas was still blocked.

“Websites are being targeted to hinder the elections and circulate negative messages in desperate attempts that won’t affect the determination of citizens who will go to the polling stations,” the interior ministry said.

Internet users captured screenshots of a photo following the hack that claimed it was executed by a previously unidentified account named Al-Toufan, or "The Flood" in Arabic. Al-Toufan-affiliated social media posts said that the organisation targeted the parliament's website "because of the persecution carried out by the Bahraini authorities, and in implementation of the people's demand to boycott the sham elections."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/juxtapose-dramatic-expansion-of-bahrain-by-building-land-on-sea-1987-vs-2022-515720">Before and after images show dramatic expansion of Bahrain by building land on sea: 1987 vs 2022</a>

The election was broadcast on Bahraini state television, and 55 polling places around the nation were said to be operating "smoothly," according to the state-run news agency.

A few hours had passed before Bahrain's legislative and municipal elections when the incident took place. The 40 members of Bahrain's lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, are chosen by the people. The King of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-prays-for-suffering-peoples-of-the-middle-east-in-bahrain-531714">Bahrain</a>, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, appoints members to the Consultative Council, the upper house of the parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers.

The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers. Although the interior ministry did not specify which websites were hacked, neither Bahrain's official government website nor that of the national Bahrain News Agency were accessible online. Later, even after the news agency's website had been restored, access to Bahrain's election website from overseas was still blocked. “Websites are being targeted to hinder the elections and circulate negative messages in desperate attempts that won’t affect the determination of citizens who will go to the polling stations,” the interior ministry said. Internet users captured screenshots of a photo following the hack that claimed it was executed by a previously unidentified account named Al-Toufan, or "The Flood" in Arabic. Al-Toufan-affiliated social media posts said that the organisation targeted the parliament's website "because of the persecution carried out by the Bahraini authorities, and in implementation of the people's demand to boycott the sham elections." Also read | Before and after images show dramatic expansion of Bahrain by building land on sea: 1987 vs 2022 The election was broadcast on Bahraini state television, and 55 polling places around the nation were said to be operating "smoothly," according to the state-run news agency. A few hours had passed before Bahrain's legislative and municipal elections when the incident took place. The 40 members of Bahrain's lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, are chosen by the people. The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, appoints members to the Consultative Council, the upper house of the parliament. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bahrain's official websites hacked, 'boycott polls' message posted amid voting for elections: Reports

Bahrain says it will continue to build its ties with Israel. It says it will respect the Abraham Accords signed in 2020. It said this after Benjamin Netanyahu's recent victory during the Israel elections.

The West Asia Post | Bahrain to continue building ties with Israel

Pope Francis said on Sunday (November 6) that he prayed for "suffering peoples of the Middle East," as he ended his Bahrain visit. The visit was organised to promote dialogue with Islam but was marked by accusations of rights abuses in Gulf state.

In a final address, he told Lebanese congregants he was praying for "your beloved country, so weary and sorely tried, as well as (for) all peoples suffering in the Middle East".

On the return flight, Francis spoke in an in-air press conference and called on Lebanese policians to "put aside...personal interests" and and come to an agreement on filling a power vacuum in the crisis-hit country, which currently has no president.

"Look at the country and come to an agreement... Let Lebanon regain its greatness," he urged them.

The 85-year-old Argentinian met both, senior Muslim officials as well as Catholic residents of the Gulf. He held an open-air mass on Saturday for about 30,000 people many of whom were moved to tears by the occasion.

Bahrain, which established formal ties with the Holy See in 2000, has around 80,000 Catholic residents. Most are workers from the Philippines and other Asian countries.

In his final address, the pope also urged congregants to pray "for Ukraine, which is suffering so much", and for an end to the war.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Pope Francis said on Sunday (November 6) that he prayed for "suffering peoples of the Middle East," as he ended his Bahrain visit. The visit was organised to promote dialogue with Islam but was marked by accusations of rights abuses in Gulf state.

Pope Francis said on Sunday (November 6) that he prayed for "suffering peoples of the Middle East," as he ended his Bahrain visit. The visit was organised to promote dialogue with Islam but was marked by accusations of rights abuses in Gulf state. In a final address, he told Lebanese congregants he was praying for "your beloved country, so weary and sorely tried, as well as (for) all peoples suffering in the Middle East". On the return flight, Francis spoke in an in-air press conference and called on Lebanese policians to "put aside...personal interests" and and come to an agreement on filling a power vacuum in the crisis-hit country, which currently has no president. "Look at the country and come to an agreement... Let Lebanon regain its greatness," he urged them. The 85-year-old Argentinian met both, senior Muslim officials as well as Catholic residents of the Gulf. He held an open-air mass on Saturday for about 30,000 people many of whom were moved to tears by the occasion. Bahrain, which established formal ties with the Holy See in 2000, has around 80,000 Catholic residents. Most are workers from the Philippines and other Asian countries. In his final address, the pope also urged congregants to pray "for Ukraine, which is suffering so much", and for an end to the war. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pope Francis prays for 'suffering peoples of the Middle East' in Bahrain

On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula. He spoke at the Sakhir royal palace following his arrival, during which he called for an end to discrimination and human rights violations saying that it is essential that “fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted”.&nbsp;

During his visit, the Pope was welcomed by the country’s monarchy King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bahrain which is led by the Sunni monarchy has been accused and criticised of overseeing human rights abuses by the Shia Muslim opposition and other rights groups. However, these accusations have been vehemently denied by authorities.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/supplying-arms-to-ukraine-morally-acceptable-says-pope-516611">Supplying arms to Ukraine 'morally acceptable', says Pope</a>

The 85-year-old Pope during his address also referred to Bahrain's constitution and talked about the importance of putting commitments into practice so that religious freedom is completed and “not limited to freedom of worship”; people get equal dignity and opportunities which must be “concretely recognised for each group” and also so that no form of discrimination&nbsp;exists.&nbsp;

The Pope’s visit aims to bolster ties with the Islamic world and was followed after his landmark 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi, where he signed a document promoting the Catholic-Muslim fraternity with a leading Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. He will stay in Bahrain from November 3 to November 6 during which he will address the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” and meet with the Muslim Council of Elders.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-says-he-needs-to-slow-down-travel-or-consider-retirement-502142">Pope Francis says he needs to slow down travel or consider retirement</a>

The Pope will also visit Catholic Churches in the country including the first one that was established in the Gulf region in 1939 and may also interact with the sizable Catholic community in Bahrain of at least 160,000 people in a country of 1.5 million. Reports suggest that many pilgrims will visit Bahrain on Saturday to attend the pope’s big Mass at the national stadium.&nbsp;

This visit has also drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between the Sunni-led government and Shia community as the latter led the pro-democracy movement in 2011 and nationwide protests demanding reform. However, the monarchy reportedly quashed the dissent with major crackdowns and help from the neighbouring UAE and Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/end-spiral-of-violence-and-death-pope-urges-putin-521874">End 'spiral of violence and death', Pope urges Putin</a>

Since then the government has detained and imprisoned thousands of activists, protestors and even journalists after conducting mass trials. Francis’ remarks also come after human rights groups as well as relatives of Shia activists on death row have urged the Pope to speak out against capital punishment and oppression.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula.

On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula. He spoke at the Sakhir royal palace following his arrival, during which he called for an end to discrimination and human rights violations saying that it is essential that “fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted”. During his visit, the Pope was welcomed by the country’s monarchy King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bahrain which is led by the Sunni monarchy has been accused and criticised of overseeing human rights abuses by the Shia Muslim opposition and other rights groups. However, these accusations have been vehemently denied by authorities. ALSO READ: Supplying arms to Ukraine 'morally acceptable', says Pope The 85-year-old Pope during his address also referred to Bahrain's constitution and talked about the importance of putting commitments into practice so that religious freedom is completed and “not limited to freedom of worship”; people get equal dignity and opportunities which must be “concretely recognised for each group” and also so that no form of discrimination exists. The Pope’s visit aims to bolster ties with the Islamic world and was followed after his landmark 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi, where he signed a document promoting the Catholic-Muslim fraternity with a leading Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. He will stay in Bahrain from November 3 to November 6 during which he will address the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” and meet with the Muslim Council of Elders. ALSO WATCH: Pope Francis says he needs to slow down travel or consider retirement The Pope will also visit Catholic Churches in the country including the first one that was established in the Gulf region in 1939 and may also interact with the sizable Catholic community in Bahrain of at least 160,000 people in a country of 1.5 million. Reports suggest that many pilgrims will visit Bahrain on Saturday to attend the pope’s big Mass at the national stadium. This visit has also drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between the Sunni-led government and Shia community as the latter led the pro-democracy movement in 2011 and nationwide protests demanding reform. However, the monarchy reportedly quashed the dissent with major crackdowns and help from the neighbouring UAE and Saudi Arabia. ALSO READ: End 'spiral of violence and death', Pope urges Putin Since then the government has detained and imprisoned thousands of activists, protestors and even journalists after conducting mass trials. Francis’ remarks also come after human rights groups as well as relatives of Shia activists on death row have urged the Pope to speak out against capital punishment and oppression. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bahrain: Pope calls for an to end human rights violations and discrimination during visit

Iranian media has begun pushing an old territorial claim again. Recent reports have claimed that Bahrain is the "14th province of Iran". Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Iranian Press: Bahrain belongs to Iran

The population of this island nation of Bahrain&nbsp;in the Persian Gulf has increased fourfold since the early 1980s. It increased to 1.5 million in 2022. The demand for land has grown as urbanisation and population density have both increased.&nbsp;

According to Eman Ghoneim, a physical geographer at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, "Like other countries in the [Persian] Gulf, rapid population growth and the simultaneous increase in urbanization, along with land scarcity, has pushed Bahrain to invest in mega land reclamation projects to extend its coastline."

These photos document developments over a 35-year period. On August 17, 1987, the Thematic Mapper on Landsat 5 took the very first picture. The second image was taken on August 17, 2022, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) onboard Landsat 8.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/11169187"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The King Fahd Causeway, which opened in 1986, connected Bahrain Island to Saudi Arabia just recently, in 1987. According to news estimates, a record 2.5 million motor vehicle passengers used the 25-kilometre (16-mile) stretch of road in July 2022.

The north of the nation is where change is most noticeable since shallow coastal waters there have allowed it both physically and economically possible to create new land from the seafloor. Not only are new islands being added, but current ones are being expanded in size.&nbsp;

Geographic information systems and remote sensing expert Sabah Aljenaid of Arabian Gulf University categorised changes to the land between 1986 and 2020 using Landsat pictures. Aljenaid and colleagues discovered that built-up (urban) areas, which grew by 7.5 per cent annually on average, dominated the changes over this time. The increase mostly came at the expense of wetlands and vegetated land.

Aljenaid emphasised Muharraq Island's rapid growth, which has increased its size to more than 60 square kilometres (23 square miles) northeast of Manama, the country's capital. She also referred to the island of Nabih Saleh, which has undergone changes and lost its agricultural lands.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rocky-earth-like-exoplanets-discovered-in-habitable-zone-around-dim-red-dwarf-star-514131">Rocky Earth-like exoplanets discovered in habitable zone around dim red dwarf star</a>

Although the north has seen the most urban growth, there have also been changes along some of the southern coastline. Dredging for the Durrat Al Bahrain man-made islands started in 2004, and by 2007 the southeast coast of Bahrain had gained an additional 5 square kilometres (2 square miles) of land.

According to a research done ten years ago by John Burt, a marine scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi, 11 per cent of Bahrain's island is made up of reclaimed land. It is unknown how Bahrain will look in 35 more years. The idea of constructing a bridge over Fasht Al Adhm to Qatar was discussed often, according to Burt. "It has not come to fruition, but it may be a future mega-development to watch out for."

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

The population of this island nation of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf has increased fourfold since the early 1980s. It increased to 1.5 million in 2022. The demand for land has grown as urbanisation and population density have both increased.

The population of this island nation of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf has increased fourfold since the early 1980s. It increased to 1.5 million in 2022. The demand for land has grown as urbanisation and population density have both increased. According to Eman Ghoneim, a physical geographer at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, "Like other countries in the [Persian] Gulf, rapid population growth and the simultaneous increase in urbanization, along with land scarcity, has pushed Bahrain to invest in mega land reclamation projects to extend its coastline." These photos document developments over a 35-year period. On August 17, 1987, the Thematic Mapper on Landsat 5 took the very first picture. The second image was taken on August 17, 2022, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) onboard Landsat 8. × The King Fahd Causeway, which opened in 1986, connected Bahrain Island to Saudi Arabia just recently, in 1987. According to news estimates, a record 2.5 million motor vehicle passengers used the 25-kilometre (16-mile) stretch of road in July 2022. The north of the nation is where change is most noticeable since shallow coastal waters there have allowed it both physically and economically possible to create new land from the seafloor. Not only are new islands being added, but current ones are being expanded in size. Geographic information systems and remote sensing expert Sabah Aljenaid of Arabian Gulf University categorised changes to the land between 1986 and 2020 using Landsat pictures. Aljenaid and colleagues discovered that built-up (urban) areas, which grew by 7.5 per cent annually on average, dominated the changes over this time. The increase mostly came at the expense of wetlands and vegetated land. Aljenaid emphasised Muharraq Island's rapid growth, which has increased its size to more than 60 square kilometres (23 square miles) northeast of Manama, the country's capital. She also referred to the island of Nabih Saleh, which has undergone changes and lost its agricultural lands. Also Read: Rocky Earth-like exoplanets discovered in habitable zone around dim red dwarf star Although the north has seen the most urban growth, there have also been changes along some of the southern coastline. Dredging for the Durrat Al Bahrain man-made islands started in 2004, and by 2007 the southeast coast of Bahrain had gained an additional 5 square kilometres (2 square miles) of land. According to a research done ten years ago by John Burt, a marine scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi, 11 per cent of Bahrain's island is made up of reclaimed land. It is unknown how Bahrain will look in 35 more years. The idea of constructing a bridge over Fasht Al Adhm to Qatar was discussed often, according to Burt. "It has not come to fruition, but it may be a future mega-development to watch out for." (with inputs from agencies)

Before and after images show dramatic expansion of Bahrain by building land on sea: 1987 vs 2022

Bahrain's&nbsp;King&nbsp;Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ordered a&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;reshuffle&nbsp;on Monday that included appointing a new oil minister, state media&nbsp;reported.

Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, who was the country's envoy for climate affairs, was named&nbsp;minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;oil&nbsp;and environment, replacing&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa‮.

‬Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eyeing-iran-israel-pm-bennett-meets-bahrains-king-as-he-strives-to-build-ring-of-alliances-453846">&nbsp;Eyeing Iran, Israel PM Bennett meets Bahrain’s King as he strives to build ‘ring of alliances’</a>

The&nbsp;reshuffle&nbsp;included appointing Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa as deputy prime&nbsp;minister&nbsp;and&nbsp;minister&nbsp;of infrastructure, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani as industry and commerce&nbsp;minister&nbsp;and Fatima bint Jaafer al Sairafi as tourism&nbsp;minister.

Watch |&nbsp;Israeli PM Naftali Bennett lands in Bahrain

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-pm-naftali-bennett-lands-in-bahrain-453373/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Crown Prince and Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said the&nbsp;reshuffle&nbsp;"will bring&nbsp;new&nbsp;ideas and a renewed drive to continue advancing the public sector," the&nbsp;state&nbsp;news agency (BNA) quoted him as saying on Monday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/citi-launches-tech-hub-in-bahrain-to-develop-its-digital-platforms-416315">Citi launches tech hub in Bahrain to develop its digital platforms</a>

"The&nbsp;reshuffle, the largest in the country’s history, has resulted in a change of 17 out of 22&nbsp;ministers, with the introduction of a large proportion of young&nbsp;ministers, including four females", a government spokesperson said.

Bahrain, a small non-OPEC&nbsp;oil&nbsp;producer, is one of the region's most indebted countries, with its bonds rated "junk". Gulf allies helped it avert a credit crunch in 2018 with a $10 billion aid package. Ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's have said Bahrain would likely need more financing from Gulf neighbors.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ordered a cabinet reshuffle on Monday that included appointing a new oil minister, state media reported. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, who was the country's envoy for climate affairs, was named minister of oil and environment, replacing Oil Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa‮.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ordered a cabinet reshuffle on Monday that included appointing a new oil minister, state media reported. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, who was the country's envoy for climate affairs, was named minister of oil and environment, replacing Oil Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa‮. ‬Also read | Eyeing Iran, Israel PM Bennett meets Bahrain’s King as he strives to build ‘ring of alliances’ The reshuffle included appointing Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa as deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani as industry and commerce minister and Fatima bint Jaafer al Sairafi as tourism minister. Watch | Israeli PM Naftali Bennett lands in Bahrain Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said the reshuffle "will bring new ideas and a renewed drive to continue advancing the public sector," the state news agency (BNA) quoted him as saying on Monday. Also read | Citi launches tech hub in Bahrain to develop its digital platforms "The reshuffle, the largest in the country’s history, has resulted in a change of 17 out of 22 ministers, with the introduction of a large proportion of young ministers, including four females", a government spokesperson said. Bahrain, a small non-OPEC oil producer, is one of the region's most indebted countries, with its bonds rated "junk". Gulf allies helped it avert a credit crunch in 2018 with a $10 billion aid package. Ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's have said Bahrain would likely need more financing from Gulf neighbors. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bahrain's king orders cabinet reshuffle, names new oil minister: Report

Israel hosted foreign ministers from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the US at a desert retreat in the Negev. Will the summit begin a new era in Arab-Israel relations? Is America's dominance in West Asia coming to an end? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Israel hosts 4 Arab ministers in unprecedented summit

Belarus scored three in the second half to beat India 3-0 in an international friendly played in Manama on Saturday.

Goals from Bykau Artsem, Andrei Salav and Hramyka Varely made the difference between the two teams. This was India's first international match against a UEFA side since they last played Azerbaijan in 2012.

Head Coach Igor Stimac made seven changes to the starting line-up which played against Bahrain in the last international friendly three days back.

The Blue Tigers were also hit by injuries to Liston Colaco and Jeakson Singh, and in addition, Rahul Bheke was not available as he had flown back to join his club's preparation for the forthcoming AFC Champions League matches.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-star-lionel-messi-pays-tribute-to-fans-in-possible-farewell-before-world-cup-465669">Lionel Messi pays tribute to Argentina fans in possible farewell before FIFA World Cup 2022</a>

The first shot came from Roshan Singh when he received it in the opposition half but his effort went wide.

Belarus had their first try in the 7th minute when they earned a free kick outside the Indian 18-yard box. But even as Siadzko Pavel aimed at the bottom corner, goalkeeper and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, playing his 50th international match stooped down to gather it with ease.

Four minutes later, Anirudh Thapa played an aerial through ball to Manvir Singh but the rival defence recovered faster not allowing Manvir to have a shy at the goal.

With India defending in numbers, Belarus did enjoy more of the possession but struggled in their search to find the gaps as the Blue Tigers maintained their shape, and tried to stay compact.

In the 39th minute, Manvir was played through behind the Belarus defence. He tried to speed past his marker and even entered the rival box, but the defence managed to snatch it to keep Manvir at bay.

Thereafter, Belarus earned a corner in the 41st minute, and a free-kick down the right flank in the 45th minute. But both the attempts didn't create any danger for the Blue Tigers as both teams headed to the interval locked goalless.

Changing over, Stimac made his first substitution as Yasir Mohammad came in place of Seriton Fernandes. In the very first minute, Belarus made an inroad down the left -- Uladzislau passed to Shauchenka Hleb but an agile Gurpreet was equal to the task.

Two minutes later, Belarus surged into the lead - a long ball from the midfield was followed up by Bykau Artsem as he volleyed it in. The next substitution came up in the 60th minute - Aniket Jadhav replacing VP Suhair.

Belarus earned a free-kick down the left flank in the 65th minute when Roshan fouled Ebonh Maks, and the resultant free-kick, curled in, missed everyone and sailed for a goal kick.

The next minute Belarus doubled their lead. Roshan lost the ball in the midfield, and Maks ran down the middle and set it up on the right for Andrei Salavi to tap it in.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uruguay-ecuador-seal-2022-fifa-world-cup-spot-in-qatar-465426">Uruguay, Ecuador seal 2022 FIFA World Cup spot in Qatar</a>

Sandesh Jhingan came to India's rescue in the 75th minute intercepting in time, thus disallowing Salavi to pull the trigger. The following corner didn`t yield anything for Belarus.

Sandesh was in fact in the thick of action executing a couple more crucial tackles as the match entered the last half. Stimac brought in his third substitution - Chinglensana Singh coming in place of Roshan.

In the 83rd minute, Akash Mishra passed it to Anirudh Thapa, who was quick to cross it into the box. But it stayed just beyond Manvir.

The final goal came at the fag end of the match - Yablonski Yauhen playing it behind the defence for Hramyka Varely to react faster than all, and send it past Gurpreet.

INDIA: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (captain); Seriton Fernandes (Yasir Mohammad - 46th), Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Hormipam Ruivah (Pritam Kotal - 90th), Anirudh Thapa, VP Suhair (Aniket Jadhav - 60th), Brandon Fernandes (Danish Farooq - 90th), Roshan Singh (Chinglensana Singh 76`), Manvir Singh.

Belarus scored three in the second half to beat India 3-0 in an international friendly played in Manama on Saturday. Goals from Bykau Artsem, Andrei Salav and Hramyka Varely made the difference between the two teams.

Belarus scored three in the second half to beat India 3-0 in an international friendly played in Manama on Saturday. Goals from Bykau Artsem, Andrei Salav and Hramyka Varely made the difference between the two teams. This was India's first international match against a UEFA side since they last played Azerbaijan in 2012. Head Coach Igor Stimac made seven changes to the starting line-up which played against Bahrain in the last international friendly three days back. The Blue Tigers were also hit by injuries to Liston Colaco and Jeakson Singh, and in addition, Rahul Bheke was not available as he had flown back to join his club's preparation for the forthcoming AFC Champions League matches. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi pays tribute to Argentina fans in possible farewell before FIFA World Cup 2022 The first shot came from Roshan Singh when he received it in the opposition half but his effort went wide. Belarus had their first try in the 7th minute when they earned a free kick outside the Indian 18-yard box. But even as Siadzko Pavel aimed at the bottom corner, goalkeeper and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, playing his 50th international match stooped down to gather it with ease. Four minutes later, Anirudh Thapa played an aerial through ball to Manvir Singh but the rival defence recovered faster not allowing Manvir to have a shy at the goal. With India defending in numbers, Belarus did enjoy more of the possession but struggled in their search to find the gaps as the Blue Tigers maintained their shape, and tried to stay compact. In the 39th minute, Manvir was played through behind the Belarus defence. He tried to speed past his marker and even entered the rival box, but the defence managed to snatch it to keep Manvir at bay. Thereafter, Belarus earned a corner in the 41st minute, and a free-kick down the right flank in the 45th minute. But both the attempts didn't create any danger for the Blue Tigers as both teams headed to the interval locked goalless. Changing over, Stimac made his first substitution as Yasir Mohammad came in place of Seriton Fernandes. In the very first minute, Belarus made an inroad down the left -- Uladzislau passed to Shauchenka Hleb but an agile Gurpreet was equal to the task. Two minutes later, Belarus surged into the lead - a long ball from the midfield was followed up by Bykau Artsem as he volleyed it in. The next substitution came up in the 60th minute - Aniket Jadhav replacing VP Suhair. Belarus earned a free-kick down the left flank in the 65th minute when Roshan fouled Ebonh Maks, and the resultant free-kick, curled in, missed everyone and sailed for a goal kick. The next minute Belarus doubled their lead. Roshan lost the ball in the midfield, and Maks ran down the middle and set it up on the right for Andrei Salavi to tap it in. ALSO READ: Uruguay, Ecuador seal 2022 FIFA World Cup spot in Qatar Sandesh Jhingan came to India's rescue in the 75th minute intercepting in time, thus disallowing Salavi to pull the trigger. The following corner didn`t yield anything for Belarus. Sandesh was in fact in the thick of action executing a couple more crucial tackles as the match entered the last half. Stimac brought in his third substitution - Chinglensana Singh coming in place of Roshan. In the 83rd minute, Akash Mishra passed it to Anirudh Thapa, who was quick to cross it into the box. But it stayed just beyond Manvir. The final goal came at the fag end of the match - Yablonski Yauhen playing it behind the defence for Hramyka Varely to react faster than all, and send it past Gurpreet. INDIA: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (captain); Seriton Fernandes (Yasir Mohammad - 46th), Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Hormipam Ruivah (Pritam Kotal - 90th), Anirudh Thapa, VP Suhair (Aniket Jadhav - 60th), Brandon Fernandes (Danish Farooq - 90th), Roshan Singh (Chinglensana Singh 76`), Manvir Singh.

India end Bahrain outing with 3-0 loss to Belarus in international friendly

The Indian men's national football team has announced the 25-member squad that will travel to Bahrain to play friendly matches against the home team and Belarus.

For the record it's the maiden call up for 7 players for their first National Senior Team assignment - Prabhshukhan Gill, Hormipam Ruivah, Anwar Ali, Roshan Singh, VP Suhair, Danish Farooq, and Aniket Yadav.

The Blue Tigers will face the hosts, Bahrain, on March 23 and Belarus on March 26. Both the matches are set to kick-off at 9.30 PM IST. The squad is expected to fly to Bahrain on Monday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-liverpool-to-play-man-city-in-semis-after-close-1-0-win-against-nottingham-palace-to-face-chelsea-464272">FA Cup: Liverpool to play Man City in semis after close 1-0 win against Nottingham, Palace to face Chelsea</a>

The two friendlies are part of the team's preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in June, later this year.

India will be playing all of their 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers matches in Kolkata, from June 8 onwards.

The Blue Tigers are placed with Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Cambodia in Group D. The 24 teams are divided into six groups and group toppers along with the five best second-placed teams will make the cut for the showpiece event.

"We are playing Bahrain and Belarus, and they are better-ranked sides than us. But whatever the rankings are, you need to do it on the pitch. Bahrain will show us where we stand. We will give chances to some young players who have played well in the Hero ISL this season to see how much we can use them for the qualifiers in June," Head Coach Igor Stimac stated.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;&nbsp;

The final list of 25 players is as below:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, and Prabhsukhan Gill.

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Seriton Fernandes, Rahul Bheke, Hormipam Ruivah, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Chinglensana Singh, Subhasish Bose, Akash Mishra, and Roshan Singh.

Midfielders: Bipin Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Pronay Halder, Jeakson Singh, Brandon Fernandes, VP Suhair, Danish Farooq, Yasir Mohammad, and Aniket Jadhav.

FORWARDS: Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, and Rahim Ali.

The Indian men's national football team has announced the 25-member squad that will travel to Bahrain to play friendly matches against the home team and Belarus.

The Indian men's national football team has announced the 25-member squad that will travel to Bahrain to play friendly matches against the home team and Belarus. For the record it's the maiden call up for 7 players for their first National Senior Team assignment - Prabhshukhan Gill, Hormipam Ruivah, Anwar Ali, Roshan Singh, VP Suhair, Danish Farooq, and Aniket Yadav. The Blue Tigers will face the hosts, Bahrain, on March 23 and Belarus on March 26. Both the matches are set to kick-off at 9.30 PM IST. The squad is expected to fly to Bahrain on Monday. ALSO READ: FA Cup: Liverpool to play Man City in semis after close 1-0 win against Nottingham, Palace to face Chelsea The two friendlies are part of the team's preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in June, later this year. India will be playing all of their 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers matches in Kolkata, from June 8 onwards. The Blue Tigers are placed with Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Cambodia in Group D. The 24 teams are divided into six groups and group toppers along with the five best second-placed teams will make the cut for the showpiece event. "We are playing Bahrain and Belarus, and they are better-ranked sides than us. But whatever the rankings are, you need to do it on the pitch. Bahrain will show us where we stand. We will give chances to some young players who have played well in the Hero ISL this season to see how much we can use them for the qualifiers in June," Head Coach Igor Stimac stated. ALSO READ: The final list of 25 players is as below: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, and Prabhsukhan Gill. Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Seriton Fernandes, Rahul Bheke, Hormipam Ruivah, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Chinglensana Singh, Subhasish Bose, Akash Mishra, and Roshan Singh. Midfielders: Bipin Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Pronay Halder, Jeakson Singh, Brandon Fernandes, VP Suhair, Danish Farooq, Yasir Mohammad, and Aniket Jadhav. FORWARDS: Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, and Rahim Ali.

Indian football team announces 25-member squad for friendlies against Bahrain, Belarus

Formula One starts a new season in Bahrain on Sunday with the biggest technical rule change in decades leaving plenty of questions to be answered.

The cars, heavier and with bigger wheels, look very different to last year's models thanks to an overhaul aimed at making overtaking easier and the racing more competitive and exciting.

There is plenty of debate already about the spirit of the rules, to what extent the changes will be successful, how teams have read them and whether some have pushed boundaries too far.

"This is by far the biggest change in regulation I think the sport has ever seen," commented Aston Martin technical head Andrew Green. "My career goes back to 1991 and it trumps anything from 1991.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-title-race-heats-up-as-manchester-city-settles-for-a-draw-against-crystal-palace-462422">Premier League: Title race heats up as Manchester City drop points against Newcastle United</a>

"I think it trumps everything as far as F1 is concerned," he added.

"It’s a completely new concept, a completely different way of approaching a regulation. It’s been a massive challenge. It’s been exciting for sure."

Formula One's managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn, another veteran whose career dates back to the 1970s and who has run teams and also served as a Ferrari technical director, hailed a real break with the past.

He said the aim was "to get a closer competition going on for the future while still leaving it a meritocracy."

"I think there’ll be a bit of disparity at the beginning but I’m confident these rules and this regime and this culture will lead to much better racing."

WHEEL SIZE

The most obvious changes are the increase in wheel size from 13 to 18 inches, with low profile Pirelli tyres, and new look front and rear wings designed to reduce the aerodynamic turbulence for cars following behind.

There are fairings on the front wheels and radically different interpretations of the sidepods, which are almost non-existent in the case of champions Mercedes, while the floors generate more ground-effect downforce.

"We may see that we don’t quite hit a bullseye in terms of following (cars) but we’ll still be so massively ahead of where we were, because the (old) cars were dreadful," said Brawn.

"We’ll still be a long way ahead of where the old cars are and then we’ll evolve it."

The race weekend has also been condensed, with media activities moved to Friday from Thursday and more points for the three Saturday sprints to be held in Imola, Austria and Brazil.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-is-not-about-politics-pcb-chief-ramiz-raja-to-hold-talks-with-sourav-ganguly-for-4-nation-series-462635">'Cricket is not about politics': PCB chief Ramiz Raja to hold talks with Sourav Ganguly for 4-nation series</a>

Each team will also have to run young drivers in two Friday practice sessions over the course of the season.

The budget cap, now reduced to $140 million, has introduced another strategic element.

"You have to decide extremely carefully where you invest your dollar in R&amp;D. In the past it was a little bit easier because you could follow various avenues in chasing performance," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

"Today you have to decide which one has the highest potential and then embark on it. So it’s a totally different way of operating for the big teams."

Formula One starts a new season in Bahrain on Sunday with the biggest technical rule change in decades leaving plenty of questions to be answered. The cars, heavier and with bigger wheels, look very different to last year's models thanks to an overhaul aimed at making overtaking easier and the racing more competitive and exciting.

Formula One starts a new season in Bahrain on Sunday with the biggest technical rule change in decades leaving plenty of questions to be answered. The cars, heavier and with bigger wheels, look very different to last year's models thanks to an overhaul aimed at making overtaking easier and the racing more competitive and exciting. There is plenty of debate already about the spirit of the rules, to what extent the changes will be successful, how teams have read them and whether some have pushed boundaries too far. "This is by far the biggest change in regulation I think the sport has ever seen," commented Aston Martin technical head Andrew Green. "My career goes back to 1991 and it trumps anything from 1991. ALSO READ: Premier League: Title race heats up as Manchester City drop points against Newcastle United "I think it trumps everything as far as F1 is concerned," he added. "It’s a completely new concept, a completely different way of approaching a regulation. It’s been a massive challenge. It’s been exciting for sure." Formula One's managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn, another veteran whose career dates back to the 1970s and who has run teams and also served as a Ferrari technical director, hailed a real break with the past. He said the aim was "to get a closer competition going on for the future while still leaving it a meritocracy." "I think there’ll be a bit of disparity at the beginning but I’m confident these rules and this regime and this culture will lead to much better racing." WHEEL SIZE The most obvious changes are the increase in wheel size from 13 to 18 inches, with low profile Pirelli tyres, and new look front and rear wings designed to reduce the aerodynamic turbulence for cars following behind. There are fairings on the front wheels and radically different interpretations of the sidepods, which are almost non-existent in the case of champions Mercedes, while the floors generate more ground-effect downforce. "We may see that we don’t quite hit a bullseye in terms of following (cars) but we’ll still be so massively ahead of where we were, because the (old) cars were dreadful," said Brawn. "We’ll still be a long way ahead of where the old cars are and then we’ll evolve it." The race weekend has also been condensed, with media activities moved to Friday from Thursday and more points for the three Saturday sprints to be held in Imola, Austria and Brazil. ALSO READ: 'Cricket is not about politics': PCB chief Ramiz Raja to hold talks with Sourav Ganguly for 4-nation series Each team will also have to run young drivers in two Friday practice sessions over the course of the season. The budget cap, now reduced to $140 million, has introduced another strategic element. "You have to decide extremely carefully where you invest your dollar in R&D. In the past it was a little bit easier because you could follow various avenues in chasing performance," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "Today you have to decide which one has the highest potential and then embark on it. So it’s a totally different way of operating for the big teams."

Formula One faces its biggest technical rule change in decades

Close on the heels of the announcement of the 38-member list of probables for the forthcoming back to back international friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus, the Indian football team suffered a major setback with talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri being ruled out for the two matches.

"I was really looking forward to the two friendlies against Baharain and Belarus and it's a shame I'll be missing out. It's been a long, tough season and I've suffered a few small injuries that need time to heal. I will be doing all I can to recover in time for the preparatory camp in May," Sunil told aiff.com.

"The potential this squad possesses is immense, and a lot of the lads are riding high on confidence on the back of good performances in the League season. I'm certain we'll put out best foot forward. I'm wishing the team all the luck," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-dad-is-a-fighter-peles-son-edinho-on-his-fathers-cancer-battle-459817">'My dad is a fighter': Pele’s son Edinho on his father's cancer battle</a>

In addition, Ashique Kuruniyan is under rehab.

The players along with the Head Coach and the staff will assemble in Pune on March 10, for the camp with practice starting from the next day onwards.

The players whose clubs would be playing in the semi-finals of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League will be joining the camp as and when their club commitments end.

The contingent will be flying to Bahrain on March 21.

&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-manager-ralf-rangnick-rubbishes-speculations-over-cristiano-ronaldos-injury-459826">Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick rubbishes speculations over Cristiano Ronaldo's injury</a>

The Blue Tigers are scheduled to play Bahrain on March 23, and Belarus on March 26.

Close on the heels of the announcement of the 38-member list of probables for the forthcoming back to back international friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus, the Indian football team suffered a major setback with talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri being ruled out for the two matches.

Close on the heels of the announcement of the 38-member list of probables for the forthcoming back to back international friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus, the Indian football team suffered a major setback with talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri being ruled out for the two matches. "I was really looking forward to the two friendlies against Baharain and Belarus and it's a shame I'll be missing out. It's been a long, tough season and I've suffered a few small injuries that need time to heal. I will be doing all I can to recover in time for the preparatory camp in May," Sunil told aiff.com. "The potential this squad possesses is immense, and a lot of the lads are riding high on confidence on the back of good performances in the League season. I'm certain we'll put out best foot forward. I'm wishing the team all the luck," he added. ALSO READ: 'My dad is a fighter': Pele’s son Edinho on his father's cancer battle In addition, Ashique Kuruniyan is under rehab. The players along with the Head Coach and the staff will assemble in Pune on March 10, for the camp with practice starting from the next day onwards. The players whose clubs would be playing in the semi-finals of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League will be joining the camp as and when their club commitments end. The contingent will be flying to Bahrain on March 21. ALSO READ: Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick rubbishes speculations over Cristiano Ronaldo's injury The Blue Tigers are scheduled to play Bahrain on March 23, and Belarus on March 26.

India captain Sunil Chhetri ruled out of friendlies against Bahrain, Belarus

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain's Crown Prince during his first visit to the Gulf state. Both leaders discussed enhancing links in a variety of sectors between the two nations after the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett meets Bahrain's Crown Prince on landmark visit

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Tuesday where he discussed several pressing issues, including their common archenemy Iran, during his historic trip to the Gulf country.

Bennett said that his landmark visit to Bahrain offered a “new model” of Israeli-Arab relations, part of a goal of creating a regional “ring of alliances”.

“This was a very successful visit, warm reception, strong connection, very open atmosphere,” Bennett said at the end of his visit, 17 months after Israel and Bahrain ended decades of tensions to normalise ties.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bahraini monarch hailed the “historic day,” noting Bennett is the first Israeli premier to visit the kingdom.

“Because of [Bennett’s] determination and leadership, this was a productive and successful visit,” he was quoted as saying in a statement. “I thank you for coming here.”

Bennett’s office said his tete-a-tete with the king extended beyond the allotted time, leaving no time for their teams to meet.

The meeting comes at a time when several Western countries are holding talks in Vienna on discussing the resumption of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal.

The talks involve Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly.

Israel has also sent its diplomats to Vienna even though it is not part of the negotiations.

While the presence of Israel in the talks has angered Iran, Jerusalem maintains that lifting sanctions on Tehran would enable it to fund nuclear programmes, putting the Arab and West Asian regions in jeopardy.

Israel is seeking to influence negotiations to seek tighter curbs on Tehran and more robust security arrangements.

The 2015 deal offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, but the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed stiff economic sanctions, prompting Tehran to begin rolling back on its commitments.

(With inputs from Jodi Cohen)

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Tuesday where he discussed several pressing issues, including their common archenemy Iran, during his historic trip to the Gulf country.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Tuesday where he discussed several pressing issues, including their common archenemy Iran, during his historic trip to the Gulf country. Bennett said that his landmark visit to Bahrain offered a “new model” of Israeli-Arab relations, part of a goal of creating a regional “ring of alliances”. “This was a very successful visit, warm reception, strong connection, very open atmosphere,” Bennett said at the end of his visit, 17 months after Israel and Bahrain ended decades of tensions to normalise ties. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bahraini monarch hailed the “historic day,” noting Bennett is the first Israeli premier to visit the kingdom. “Because of [Bennett’s] determination and leadership, this was a productive and successful visit,” he was quoted as saying in a statement. “I thank you for coming here.” Bennett’s office said his tete-a-tete with the king extended beyond the allotted time, leaving no time for their teams to meet. The meeting comes at a time when several Western countries are holding talks in Vienna on discussing the resumption of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal. The talks involve Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly. Israel has also sent its diplomats to Vienna even though it is not part of the negotiations. While the presence of Israel in the talks has angered Iran, Jerusalem maintains that lifting sanctions on Tehran would enable it to fund nuclear programmes, putting the Arab and West Asian regions in jeopardy. Israel is seeking to influence negotiations to seek tighter curbs on Tehran and more robust security arrangements. The 2015 deal offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, but the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed stiff economic sanctions, prompting Tehran to begin rolling back on its commitments. (With inputs from Jodi Cohen)

Eyeing Iran, Israel PM Bennett meets Bahrain’s King as he strives to build ‘ring of alliances’

In a bit to cement ties Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed in the Gulf state of Bahrain, it is the first public visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to Bahrain, the visit also comes two weeks after the country signed a defense agreement to counter rising tensions in the Gulf.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett lands in Bahrain

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett on a 2-day trip to Bahrain

Israeli Defense minister Benny Gantz landed in Bahrain, this is the latest high-profile diplomatic trip since the country's normalized ties.

Israeli Defence Minister Gantz first-ever visit to Bahrain

bahrain

Bahrain, News on Bahrain, stories on Bahrain, articles on Bahrain, Bahrain stories at Wion, Bahrain news, Bahrain latest news