Iranian intelligence minister tests positive for COVID-19
April 20, 2021, 8:53 am

Iranian intelligence minister tests positive for COVID-19

Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi answers questions from lawmakers in an open session of parliament in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. (AP)

Iran’s minister of intelligence Mahmoud Alavi has tested positive for COVID-19, the Rouydad24 news website reported on Monday. The 66-year-old is reportedly quarantining in his home.

Alavi was appointed minister of Iran’s intelligence ministry after Hassan Rouhani assumed the presidency in 2013.

He was formerly a member of the country’s Assembly of Experts, the body that oversees the actions of supreme leader Khomeini.

Alavi in February made a rare admission that Iran could potentially pursue the development of nuclear weapons if sanctions are not lifted.

COVID-19 cases in Iran have surged in recent weeks with new daily case numbers reaching record highs.

The spike in infections has come weeks after a two-week holiday for Nowruz, the Persian new year celebrations that saw millions flocking to domestic holiday destinations.

Iran’s vaccine rollout has been slow, with at least 462,642 doses having been administered to a population of 84 million.

The pandemic has hit Iran particularly hard. Many top officials have died from the virus including Ayatollah Hashem Bathaei-Golpaygani, who was a member of the Assembly of Experts, and Hamid Kahram, a former member of parliament.

source: Marco Ferrari

Image source: AP

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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.”