U.S. Secretary of Defense tests positive for COVID-19
January 3, 2022, 6:56 am

U.S. Secretary of Defense tests positive for COVID-19

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with President Joe Biden

The Xinhua reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

Austin said in a statement: "I tested positive this morning for COVID-19," adding that he was experiencing mild symptoms and will be quarantined for the next five days.

"I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President," Austin said. "My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week."

The secretary said he last met U.S. President Joe Biden on Dec. 21, 2021 and "tested negative that very morning." He has not been in the Pentagon since Thursday, when he met briefly with a few members of his staff, during which they "were properly masked and socially distanced throughout," the statement said.

Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin arrive in Qatar to discuss US-Afghanistan relations

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to visit Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia

Austin, 68, said he has been fully vaccinated and received a booster shot.

Source: xinhua

Sudan's Prime Minister resigns after mass protests Saudi women to drive the Kingdom’s Haramain express train

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”