Author: News Desk

Kuala Lumpur : Indonesia and Kuwait emphasised their commitment to strengthening cooperation in energy security to address global economic and geopolitical challenges. The commitment was highlighted during a meeting in Jakarta between Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Khaled Al Yassin, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Indonesia. Hartarto said bilateral relations between the two countries are built on a solid foundation that supports expanding cooperation, particularly in the field of energy security. He noted that cooperation includes several strategic projects, including the participation of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) in eight oil and gas…

Marrakech : Dr. Ali Majed Al Noaimi, member of the delegation of the Parliamentary Division, participated in a session on strategies for creating sustainable employment opportunities as part of the fourth Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Region. During a paper presented at the session, Dr. Al Noaimi said that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups are key drivers of economic diversification and fiscal sustainability rather than merely a supporting sector. He noted that international experiences have demonstrated their ability to drive innovation and create quality employment opportunities for young people when supported by an appropriate…

Madrid : The Kingdom of Spain’s rail operating company Adif stated that high-speed train services between Madrid and Barcelona were suspended after a wildfire broke out near a section of the line in Catalonia. The disruption comes as Spain prepares for the first heatwave of the season, with the national weather agency forecasting a sharp rise in wildfire risk from Sunday, particularly in northern inland areas. Last summer, Spain and Portugal experienced a 16-day heatwave that was the most intense on record and contributed to devastating forest fires. Scientists say such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to…

Kuwait : The State of Kuwait has announced plans to raise its oil production to two million barrels per day within a week and lift all force majeure notices, following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under a peace agreement. Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al Sabah, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, said in a statement that pre-war production levels could be restored within weeks, provided regular international commercial shipping to Kuwaiti ports resumes. He added that Kuwait’s oil sector had completed major repairs to damaged energy infrastructure, enabling production capacity to recover faster than previously…

Beijing : China activated a Level IV emergency flood response in five provinces as heavy rainfall is forecast to continue until June 25. Meteorologists warned that persistent heavy to torrential rain is expected to affect central and eastern China over the coming week, raising river levels and increasing the risk of flooding in some smaller waterways. China’s Ministry of Water Resources issued special alerts identifying areas at risk, including reservoirs and flood-prone regions, and dispatched working teams to provide guidance on the ground. The ministry also instructed local authorities to strengthen hydrological monitoring, emergency preparedness, and water infrastructure management to…

Brussels : European stocks traded in a narrow range on Friday as investors continued to shy away from higher-risk assets. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.1%, as losses in mining and utilities shares offset gains in the energy and defence sectors. Entain shares rose 1.7%, while ASML shares declined 1.8%.

Geneva : The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that 896 confirmed Ebola cases and 232 deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo one month after the outbreak was declared. WHO said more than 115 experts have been deployed and 110 tonnes of emergency supplies delivered to support response efforts, while 78 patients have recovered. The organisation noted that challenges remain in accessing high-risk areas, tracing contacts, and securing additional funding to contain the outbreak.

Manama : The Ministry of Education organised a ceremony honouring students who won and excelled in the local qualifiers of the 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge. The ceremony was attended by Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education; Fahad Mohammed Salem Bin Kardous Al Ameri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Kingdom of Bahrain; Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi, Director of Programmes and Initiatives at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, said that the ministry’s active participation in the initiative reflects the strong…

Marrakech : Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division of the Kingdom of Bahrain, participated high level opening session of the fourth Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region, held in Marrakech, the Kingdom of Morocco, from June 19 to 20. The forum is organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the House of Councillors of Morocco, in partnership with the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He emphasised that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s foreign policy,…

Baku : Yusuf Abdulla Al Humood, Undersecretary for Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, headed Bahrain’s delegation to the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meetings brought together ministers responsible for finance, economy and trade, central bank governors from member states, representatives of regional and international organisations, and financial and economic experts. Participants discussed a range of key issues and initiatives aimed at advancing comprehensive development across IsDB member states. Sessions reviewed major new initiatives and projects launched by the IsDB Group, including its concessional financing framework,…