Letters

We just wanted to say a ‘Big Thank You’ to GulfWeekly and reporter Kristian Harrison for such a lovely article on our horse-riding daughter Aimee Keen, front page as well!

We’ve shared it all over Facebook and have received such lovely comments. Aimee’s also had lots of messages and good luck wishes. We are looking forward to a successful and fun trip to Germany.

Thanks again!

Proud mum and dad, Sue and Simon

And there’s me sitting down with my coffee, ready to do the crossword!

For your information, the clues for last week’s offering are for another crossword, not this one.

Regards,

Sandra Mallin

Editor’s note:

Puzzle page: We’re so sorry

Today, I apologise unreservedly to our long-standing readers and the growing number of people who are joining us, making us the leading weekly newspaper and website in Bahrain.

Last week’s crossword clues were a repeat from a previous issue. That is unforgivable.

Our switchboard, our news desk, our features desk and even our sports desk has been inundated with complaints. So too have our reporters and photographers out in the field. We are heartbroken about that.

And, we are doubly heartbroken because this was no human error. It was a computer system malfunction. Now, please do not turn away out of boredom.

In computer terms, the correct page had corrupted just before print deadline.

In the middle of press night hustle and bustle and the screaming and shouting, as late news developments tumbled around our busy newsroom and advertising artwork dropped into the system, the buttons were pressed to electronically send the page to our presses.

Despairingly, without us knowing, the computer decided otherwise. It picked up an earlier Wednesday page. We are crestfallen.

Every week our news and sports reporters are striving to bring you the latest news and analysis, our feature writers are seeking out interesting interviews and subjects to bring to your breakfast table each Wednesday morning and online too.

We care for you. And, we care when things go wrong.

Most people who have phone or emailed, such as Sandra, understand that. In fact, they praised us for our super and caring newspaper … but were terribly disappointed about the crossword placed on the celebrally crust & crema puzzle page they love.

A handful though, made rude remarks to our team. GulfWeekly IS the community newspaper at the heart of Bahrain and when we make a mistake we apologise, even if it is beyond our control.

So, today, we are publishing our puzzle page again, trying to put right the gremlins in the system that let us all down.

But still our message to you all, our loyal readers, is that we may make a mistake now and then, but no newspaper works harder for you … and so compare us with some of the other press release-filled tabloids which some of your neighbours might read for reasons best known to themselves.

They just do not compare to how we care about the kingdom. Indeed, our coverage of human interest stories leaves them way behind in the shadows.

So, to you all. Sorry. We ae, as we say, heartbroken.

(Inspired by an apology once penned by a fellow British editor Terry  Manners).

The Kingdom of Bahrain continues to dominate combat sports in Asia as the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) rankings reveal KHK MMA fighters among the list of top 100 amateur mixed martial artists in the world.

Hussain Abdulla, Abdulmanap Magomedov, Fahad Abdulrazaq and Abbas Khan made it to the rankings of top 100 amateur MMA fighters in the world.

The latest developments spearheaded by KHK MMA have boosted the chances of Bahrain as a leading competitor in the upcoming IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA to be held at Bahrain during November.

The IMMAF is the international democratic governing body for the sport of MMA consisting of above 60 member nations.

Bahrain was able to add three more athletes to the list compared to the previous year. Initiatives implemented under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa through Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Mixed Martial Arts (KHK MMA) has gained global attention for Bahrain as the hub for combat sports.

In 2017, KHK MMA fighters representing the Bahrain National Team secured gold and three bronze medals at the IMMAF Asian Open Championships in Singapore. Hussain Abdulla, Nayef Fikri and Abbas Khan had won bronze medals in their respective categories while Abdulmanap Magomedov has secured the gold medal.

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has announced that the kingdom will host the fourth edition of the IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA during the Brave Combat Week, in November 2017.

Bahrain will be the only nation other than the United States of America to host the World Championships of Amateur MMA.

Hari Bhagirath, Chief Creative Officer.