Bahrain Telegraph - 24/7 your daily source for Bahrain news and global information

Fresh from an election win that far surpassed expectations, Thailand's prime minister sat casually on the floor of a conference room at his party headquarters Sunday, joking with reporters before getting up to declare victory.

Ismaila Sarr's second-half goal helped Crystal Palace end a woeful 12-match winless run with a 1-0 Premier League victory away to bitter rivals Brighton on Sunday.

Czech snowboard star Ester Ledecka took aim at Olympic chiefs on Sunday amid fears that parallel giant slalom could be axed, saying athletes' voices were considered secondary to "politics and money".

French authorities have arrested six suspects, including a minor, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, prosecutors said on Sunday.

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime retained his Montpellier Open title by defeating France's Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in Sunday's final.

Lindsey Vonn's brave gamble for Olympic glory might have ended in horror for the US star, but she remains an icon of alpine skiing after a storied career filled with memorable highs and crushing setbacks.

Thailand's conservative prime minister claimed victory in the country's general election Sunday, after television stations projected his party would be by far the largest in parliament after riding a wave of nationalism.

A late blitz from Kamindu Mendis saw Sri Lanka recover from early jitters to claw their way to 163-6 after being sent in to bat by Ireland in their World Cup opener in Colombo on Sunday.

Embattled British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff resigned on Sunday over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite links to US convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Patrick Reed continued his impressive crusie round the Gulf as he won Qatar Masters by two strokes on Sunday.

Thailand's conservative prime minister was heading for a victory in the country's general election Sunday, television stations projected, with his party set to be by far the largest in parliament after riding a wave of nationalism.

Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the Winter Olympics downhill on Sunday, brutally ending the American skiing great's improbable dream of winning a medal despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Newly-crowned Olympic downhill champion Breezy Johnson said her heart ached for Lindsey Vonn after witnessing her American teammate crash heavily out of alpine skiing's blue riband event on Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was on course for a thumping victory in snap elections on Sunday, a result that could however rile China and worry financial markets.

Steve Tandy has ruled out out making wholesale changes to his Wales side after a 48-7 rout by England in their Six Nations opener.

Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who admires Margaret Thatcher, entrenched her leadership on Sunday four months after becoming Japan's first woman prime minister, but she has shown little appetite for framing it around gender.

England clung on to beat Nepal by four runs in a last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday and avoid one of the biggest upsets in the history of the T20 World Cup.

Veteran Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl defended his Olympic men's parallel giant slalom crown in thrilling style on Sunday, powering back to beat South Korea's Kim Sang-kyum.

Brightly coloured kites soared through the skies over Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore this weekend, marking the return of a festival after a 19-year ban that had been imposed over safety concerns.

England clung on to beat Nepal by four runs in a last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday and avoid one of the biggest upsets in the history of the T20 World Cup.

The UK foreign ministry said on Sunday it was reviewing an exit payment to former US envoy Peter Mandelson, who was sacked over links to convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Henry Arundell revealed how he had been inspired by South Africa hero Cheslin Kolbe in his quest to become a better rugby player after marking his first England start since the 2023 World Cup with a hat-trick of tries against a hapless Wales.

Czech snowboard star Ester Ledecka crashed out of the women's parallel giant slalom on Sunday, ending her hopes of a historic third straight gold in the sport.

Lindsey Vonn's Winter Olympic dream ended in screams of pain on Sunday after she crashed out of the women's downhill won by her American teammate Breezy Johnson.

The excited fans had come to the chic Italian mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo on Sunday hoping to see Lindsey Vonn make Olympic history.

Portugal, which is reeling from fatal storms, voted on Sunday in the second round of a presidential election in which the moderate favourite is expected to trounce his far-right rival.

Breezy Johnson won the gold medal in the alpine skiing downhill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday after Lindsey Vonn's comeback ended with a horror crash.

Lindsey Vonn's Winter Olympic dream ended in screams of pain on Sunday after she crashed out of the women's downhill, failing in her audacious bid to medal in her favoured discipline at the Milan-Cortina Games.

French authorities have arrested five suspects after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, prosecutors told AFP on Sunday.

Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook scored quick fifties but Nepal took regular wickets as England made 184-7 on Sunday in their opening Group C match of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai.

Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the Winter Olympics downhill on Sunday, ending the American skiing great's improbable dream of winning a medal despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Hyundai is preparing to launch the Ioniq 3, a compact EV that will slot below the Ioniq 5. Inspired by the Concept Three unveiled in 2025, the production car will ride on a 400‑volt version of the E‑GMP platform and feature pixelated LED lighting, active aero shutters and a lounge‑like cabin. Two battery options are expected: a 58.3 kWh pack yielding around 270 miles of range and an 81.4 kWh pack delivering roughly 375 miles (WLTP). A front‑mounted motor producing about 201 hp should propel the car to 60 mph in roughly 7.5 seconds with a top speed near 105 mph. Vehicle‑to‑load bidirectional charging will be included.Hyundai is also reportedly developing a high‑performance Ioniq 3 N with dual motors and 288 bhp for a sub‑six‑second 0–60 mph time. The infotainment system will debut the new Pleos software, enabling over‑the‑air updates and Apple CarPlay Ultra. Designers intend to create a “living room” interior with flexible seating and sustainable materials.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was projected Sunday to have won a thumping victory in snap elections, in a result that could however rile China and worry financial markets.

Renault has reimagined its iconic Twingo as a purely electric city car. Built on the AmpR Small platform, the new model uses a lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery with 27.5 kWh of usable capacity and an 80 hp motor. This combination gives a WLTP range of about 163 miles (approximately 263 km). Standard charging is via a 6.6 kW AC charger, with options for 11 kW AC and 50 kW DC; the latter takes the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. A one‑pedal mode delivers strong regeneration for urban driving.The Twingo E‑Tech is slated to hit the European market in early 2026 with a target price below €20,000. Early adopters can secure an R Pass from December 2025, gaining priority ordering and perks such as a 1:43 scale model and early test drives. Inside, a seven‑inch digital instrument cluster is paired with a ten‑inch infotainment screen running Google services and voice control. Sliding rear seats allow the boot to expand to 360 litres, and up to 24 driver‑assistance systems—including automated emergency braking and lane‑keeping—make this tiny EV surprisingly sophisticated.

Lancia’s revival begins with an all‑new Ypsilon supermini. Built on Stellantis’s CMP platform, it comes as a battery‑electric or 48‑volt mild‑hybrid. The electric Ypsilon uses a 51 kWh battery and a front‑mounted motor rated at 115 kW (156 hp), delivering up to 403 km of WLTP range and more than 500 km in urban use. DC fast charging takes the battery from 20 to 80 percent in 24 minutes, or adds 100 km of range in 10 minutes, while consumption is rated at 14.3–14.6 kWh/100 km. The mild‑hybrid pairs a 1.2‑litre three‑cylinder with a 48‑V system to produce 100 hp and achieve 0–100 km/h in 9 seconds.The cabin is co‑created with furniture maker Cassina, combining sustainable textiles with a minimalist design. Lancia’s SALA (Sound Air Light Augmentation) interface manages lighting, climate and media across dual displays. Half of the surfaces passengers touch are made from recycled or eco‑friendly materials. Outside, the Ypsilon wears a reinterpretation of Lancia’s grille, round Stratos‑inspired rear lights and clean lines.

The Cupra Raval translates Cupra’s rebellious spirit into an urban electric hatch. Derived from the UrbanRebel concept, it rides on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ architecture and will be built in Martorell. Launching in early 2026, the Dynamic and Dynamic Plus versions deliver 210 hp and up to 450 km of range, while the VZ Extreme pushes output to 226 hp and adds an electronic limited‑slip differential and adaptive chassis tuning.Two battery sizes—expected around 38 kWh and 56 kWh—will enable sub‑7‑second 0–62 mph acceleration. Styling borrows from the edgy UrbanRebel with angular headlamps, bold creases and copper‑coloured details. Inside, a driver‑focused cockpit features configurable digital instruments, a large infotainment screen and an optional 12‑speaker Sennheiser audio system.

Volkswagen’s ID.Polo ushers the iconic Polo name into the electric age. Pre‑sales begin at the end of April 2026. Built at the Martorell plant in Spain, the compact five‑door model is the first production car on VW’s updated MEB+ platform. Pricing will start below €25,000.Customers can choose between 37 kWh and 52 kWh batteries powering 85 kW, 99 kW or 155 kW motors; the GTI variant with 166 kW arrives later. The larger battery delivers up to 450 km of range and supports DC charging at up to 130 kW. New assistance systems include Travel Assist with traffic‑light and stop‑sign recognition.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its negotiations with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.

Opener Tim Seifert struck a blistering 65 off 42 balls to lead New Zealand's highest-ever run in a T20 World Cup as they beat Afghanistan by five wickets on Sunday.