Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims it has destroyed the command and control centre, naval support management centre, warehouses, and fuel tanks at the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain in a “crushing response” this morning.

The IRGC warned that oil and gas export routes serving the US and its allies could be targeted if the conflict continues.

In a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC said energy exports from the region should be “either for everyone or for no one”, signalling the possibility of further action against regional shipping and energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the US military says it has completed an additional round of strikes against Iran at 10pm EST on July 14 (02:00 GMT on July 15).

It said it hit “dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas”.

“US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems” during the seven-hour operation, US Central Command said.

The military said that the strikes were designed “to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews”.

The action took place the same day US forces “resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas”, which “went into effect at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday [20:00 GMT on July 14]”, it said. (Al Jazeera)

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Sri Lankan mangoes took centre stage at Bahrain’s vibrant Mango festivals this May and June, featured prominently by two of the country’s largest Supermarket chains, Lulu Hypermarket and Al Jazira.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain, as part of its economic diplomacy initiatives, has been actively encouraging leading Bahraini retailers to source fresh mangoes and other fruit varieties from Sri Lanka. 

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy, LuLu hypermarket at The Avenues launched the Mango season on 23rd May with its lively “Mango Mania” inauguration celebrating diverse mango varieties from around the world.

Sri Lankan mangoes were once again thrust into the spotlight at Al Jazira Supermarket’s inaugural event on 4 June – “The Great Mango Football Fiesta”.  

Alongside Sri Lanka’s fruit, Mangoes from India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were also showcased.

A highlight of the Al Jazira festival was a Live cooking demonstration also featuring Sri Lankan cuisine prepared with Sri Lankan mangoes.  

Complementing this were product stands displaying Ceylon Tea brands, further promoting the best of Sri Lanka’s exports. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has held a series of high‑level discussions with counterparts across the Middle East, underscoring Colombo’s commitment to peace, stability, and the welfare of Sri Lankan migrant communities.

In a call with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister Herath exchanged views on regional developments and emphasized the importance of de‑escalation and diplomacy in safeguarding stability. He also expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s care towards Sri Lankan expatriates.

Minister Herath also spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to peace and stability. Both sides agreed that restoring regional peace is a top priority, with Herath thanking Jordan for its support to the Sri Lankan community.

In a discussion with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, the two leaders shared perspectives on current regional developments and pledged joint commitment to de‑escalation and the protection of civilians through sustained diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile, in a call with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al‑Ahmad Al‑Sabah, Minister Herath reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s shared commitment to peace and security, urged restraint and de‑escalation through diplomacy, and conveyed gratitude for Kuwait’s continued support to Sri Lankan nationals.

The engagements highlight Sri Lanka’s diplomatic outreach at a time of heightened regional tensions, with a strong focus on protecting its citizens abroad while advocating for peace. (Newswire)

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A Sri Lankan-invented medical device designed for the non-invasive early detection of cardiovascular conditions using Artificial Intelligence was successfully piloted at the King Hamad American Mission Hospital in the Kingdom of Bahrain in February.

According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain, the initiative was facilitated by the Sri Lankan Embassy, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) under the Ministry of Digital Economy of Sri Lanka.

The device, marketed under the trademark JENDO, is a novel screening system developed by a team of Sri Lankan scientists led by Engineer and biomedical innovator Keerthi Kodithuwakku. The technology enables early identification of vascular abnormalities and cardiovascular risk through non-invasive physiological signal analysis, supporting preventive healthcare and population-level screening.

Following an initial technical demonstration to the hospital’s medical team, the system was subsequently deployed for patient testing during the pilot programme from 23rd to 25th February. The trial evaluated the usability and clinical integration of the device within a hospital environment.

The King Hamad American Mission Hospital is the fifth and largest branch of the American Mission Hospital network in Bahrain, whose origins date back to 1903 with the establishment of the Mason Memorial Hospital.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Shanika Dissanayake, expressed appreciation to Dr. George Cheriyan, Chief Executive Officer of the King Hamad American Mission Hospital, for enabling the pilot programme at the request of the Embassy. She noted that the collaboration not only supported the advancement of the inventor’s research and commercialization efforts but also highlighted the growing capacity of Sri Lanka in the field of digital health and medical innovation.

The JENDO device has previously received national recognition in Sri Lanka, including the Presidential Gold Award in 2025, and represents part of a broader effort to introduce scalable preventive healthcare technologies developed in Sri Lanka to international healthcare systems. (Newswire)

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The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Bahrain, Shanika Dissanayake, met with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, at the Gudaibiya Palace in Manama this week (Dec 14).

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain, Ambassador Dissanayake conveyed to the Crown Prince the greetings and best wishes of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and extended her best wishes for the 54th National Day of Bahrain, which falls on December 16.

The Ambassador briefed the Crown Prince on the multifaceted bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Bahrain, highlighting opportunities for future cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.

The Crown Prince, in his remarks, underscored the longstanding bilateral ties between Bahrain and Sri Lanka and commended the contributions of the Sri Lankan community in Bahrain.

He further emphasized Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening and expanding cooperation with Sri Lanka across multiple sectors. (Newswire)

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The tourism economy of Swat valley took a hit at the very beginning of the business season this year due to flooding caused by heavy rains.

On April 18, a heavy downpour caused flooding in the Swat River’s Daral Khwar stream and affected hotels and shops in the Bahrain Bazaar.

Last year’s devastating floods had already washed away the bridge on Daral Khwar, Bahrain, which was a vital link that provided travellers access to the picturesque Kalam valley, a major tourist attraction in Swat. The bridge has still to be repaired.

The other route, a road link from Bahrain to Kalam was lost in the recent rains. Many tourists who had come to Upper Swat to celebrate Eid with their families were stuck in the area as were the residents of Upper Swat.

The residents of Swat recorded a protest in Mingora City to express their dismay over the situation. They demanded that the authorities step in to clear the roads and repair the bridge. The protesters stressed the need to expedite work on Bahrain-Kalam road.

The tourism season started early this year because of the Eid holidays. Many people, however, cancelled their plans to visit Swat valley following the rain-induced floods.

Uzma, a 21 year old from Peshawar, said she and her family cancelled their plans to visit Swat over the Eid holidays after she received a text message on the situation from the government.

“Recent heavy rains, in upper Swat. The Kalam road is closed due to floods in Bahrain. Avoid travelling on the Swat River route,” read the cautionary message.

Rooh-ul Amin, a resident of Charsadda, who visited Swat with some friends, had a similar experience. Amin said that he and his friends had been planning on visiting the Kalam valley. However, they had to cancel the plans after the locals confirmed that the road to Kalam was not in a good condition.

Syed Niaz Ali, the owner of a hotel in Kalam, estimates that compared to last year the number of tourists has dropped by at least 80 per cent.

“Reconstruction of the hotels damaged by floods last year has been started. The main problem is that the Bahrain-Kalam road is in a state of disrepair. That discourages tourists from visiting,” says Ali.

Located halfway between the Swat and Dir districts, Kumrat valley, another tourist destination, also received fewer visitors this year.

Tahir-Ullah who works as a manager at a hotel in Kumrat valley, says the number of people visiting the valley has sharply declined.

“Last year, the tourism season started in May. We didn’t have a room to spare. This year, it started earlier, in April. As of now, only two people have booked a room,” the manager tells TNS.

Tahir-Ullah attributes this drop in footfall to damaged infrastructure that has still to be repaired. “The road from Thal to Kumrat is in a dilapidated condition. The valley has become hard to access. Nobody wants to visit Kumrat these days,” he complains.

Tahir says many hotel owners have decided not to open their guesthouses and lodges this season. “When tourists stop visiting, the owners are unable to meet the operational costs. They have to make the tough decision to shut down,” he explains.

Azmat Akbar, the chief executive officer of a tourist company, and the owner of several hotels in the Kumrat region, agrees with Tahir-Ullah.

“Kumrat and Kalam, two of the most attractive tourist destinations in Malakand division, began facing a crunch after the floods, last year,” says Akbar. He says these tourist spots have been ‘practically abandoned.’

“The revival of tourism in Malakand division is not possible without reconstruction of the infrastructure. The repair work is key in re-establishing connectivity and making these areas more accessible,” he adds.

“After last year’s floods, I lost Rs 10 million,” says Akbar, “We are sure we’ll be running into a loss this year too. We are trying to assess the damage,” says Akbar.

“The loss of tourism-related amounted to Rs 9.5 billion after last year’s floods,” estimates Zahid Khan, president of Swat Hotels Association.

“Last year, the floods washed away parts of the Bahrain-Kalam road. The bridges leading to Kalam were also damaged,” says Khan.

“The tourism season has already started. However, some of these routes have still not been restored,” he complains. “If the repair work is stalled, it can cost us billions of rupees this year too,” he warns.

The setback is felt, not just by the hotel owners but also by other people associated with Swat’s hospitality sector. Service providers, drivers, tourist guides, porters, local handicrafts industry, trout fishermen and small business owners are just some of the people whose livelihoods are at stake.

The tourism industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received its first shock during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was still reeling from the aftermath when floods inundated the province, last year and caused large-scale devastation.

The weather patterns and recent rain spells indicate that climate change is among the major challenges the tourism sector will have to adapt to.

Swat, Dir and Chitral are three districts particularly vulnerable to climate change. Nestled in the Hindu Kush mountain range, these areas are regularly struck by flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and land sliding.

Dr Mohammad Nafees, chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Peshawar, points out that climate change is not a recent phenomenon. “Two decades have passed since we started experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change in Pakistan,” says Nafees.

Nafees says, “Climate change has a major impact on mountainous areas. Storms, flash floods, avalanches and landslides affect tourism negatively.” (TNS)

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