Author: News Desk

Manama : The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Gulf Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, launched a regional workshop focused on advancing measles elimination in the Gulf region. The event gathered health officials and stakeholders from the region to coordinate strategies and share expertise. Dr. Samya Ali Baharom, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of continued regional cooperation in reducing measles cases and boosting immunisation programmess. She noted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s progress in disease prevention, citing the World Health Organisation’s recent recognition of the Kingdom’s success in eliminating endemic measles…

Seoul : South Korea’s industrial production, retail sales, and facility investment declined in April compared to March, according to official data. Industrial output dropped by 0.8%, driven by a 0.9% contraction in the manufacturing sector. Retail sales, a key indicator of private consumption, dropped by 0.9%, while facility investment declined by 0.4%. The Korean Statistical Information Service noted that this simultaneous drop across the three key indicators is the first since January and only the second since last October, reflecting the ongoing economic challenges facing the country.

Manama : The Ministry of Sustainable Development, in cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the World Health Organisation (WHO), organised a specialised workshop on methodologies for calculating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators related to the impact of environmental factors on health. The workshop is part of a series of national sessions launched by the Ministry to address SDG data gaps, in line with efforts to enhance statistical capacity and improve the quality of national data. Discussions focused on indicators assessing how environmental factors affect health and wellbeing, including air and water quality,…

Jakarta : At least 14 people have been confirmed dead following a quarry collapse in Indonesia’s West Java province, with rescue efforts still ongoing. According to local authorities, the incident occurred on Friday at the Gunung Kuda quarry in Cirebon. Rescuers recovered 10 bodies and 12 injured individuals during initial operations, while three more bodies were retrieved later in the evening. One injured worker also died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to 14. The National Search and Rescue Agency reported that five people are being treated in hospital for serious injuries. Authorities believe between six and eight individuals…

Singapore : France and Singapore signed a broad agreement to enhance cooperation in nuclear and clean energy during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Singapore. President Macron said during a joint press conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong that the agreement also includes cooperation in the fields of cyber security and defence. The French President is currently on an official tour of Southeast Asia, which includes stops in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today directed the Ministry of Interior to draft the necessary legislation to strengthen penalties for traffic violations and accidents that result in serious injuries or fatalities.  The directive comes as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety and reducing traffic-related incidents. This initiative aligns with the government’s broader efforts to modernise the legislative framework governing traffic safety and to impose stricter penalties, with the measures designed to promote greater compliance with traffic laws and to safeguard lives and property. His Royal…

Mecca : Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla Al Qattan, Head of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Hajj Mission, held a coordination meeting with the heads of the mission’s committees to assess their readiness and review ongoing preparations to serve Bahraini pilgrims. He commended the high level of organisation and preparedness demonstrated by the committees upon arrival at the mission’s headquarters in the Al Naseem district of Mecca. He emphasised the importance of operating under a clear, coordinated plan to deliver the best possible services to Bahraini pilgrims. Shaikh Al Qattan also conducted a field visit to all the mission’s committees. He underscored…

Washington : U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell since returning to office, stressed the need to cut interest rates to boost the competitiveness of the U.S. economy against China and other countries. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that the president expressed his view that maintaining current interest rates was a policy mistake that could place the United States at a disadvantage economically. The meeting followed months of criticism from Trump regarding the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance. Powell said that the Federal Reserve’s decisions are made independently of political considerations. He…

Madrid : Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, led Bahrain’s delegation to the 123rd session of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), held in Segovia, Spain, from May 29 to 30, 2025. The session brought together senior officials and tourism decision makers from member states. Al Sairafi emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to active participation in international forums focused on tourism development and to continuing its role as an effective partner in shaping the future of sustainable tourism. She highlighted the importance of integrated cooperation with other member states to achieve comprehensive development goals and…

Manama,: Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of Law and Justice, and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs of the Republic of India, visited the Council for International Dispute Resolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution, and the Bahrain International Commercial Court. The visit focused on sharing the best judicial practices and enhancing cooperation between Bahrain and India in legal innovation. Professor Marike Paulsson, Secretary General of the Council, presented Meghwal with a copy of “Arbitration in India”, which she co-published.