Author: News Desk

Manama : Fintech Forward, the region’s flagship financial services forum, is set to take place in Bahrain on October 7-8 at Exhibition World Bahrain. Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and programmed by Forbes Middle East, Fintech Forward 2026 (FF26) is set to convene global thought leaders, leading financial innovators, and policymakers, to examine the most pressing ecosystem challenges that lie ahead, as well as the high-potential investment opportunities that are powering the financial services industry’s next phase of growth in Bahrain, the broader region and beyond. Supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and Bahrain…

Manama : The Ministry of Health launched the “Genome Guides” training programme, delivered by the National Genome Centre as part of the Science and Technology Centre’s programmes at the 14th edition of Youth City 2030. Youth City 2030 is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs in partnership with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). Dr. Lulwa Rashid Showaiter, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, said the programme aims to introduce young people to human genomics and its role in the future of healthcare through interactive training and practical activities. The programme covers the National Genome Project, the fundamentals of genetics, artificial…

Manama :: The Board of Directors of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) held its third regular meeting of 2026, chaired by Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Tourism Minister and Chairwoman of the BTEA Board of Directors. Sarah Ahmed Buhiji, BTEA Chief Executive Officer, was present. The minister underscored the importance of continuing to implement plans and initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the tourism sector and strengthening partnerships with the private sector, while further developing high-quality projects and initiatives that contribute to consolidating Bahrain’s position as a leading tourist destination and support economic development objectives. The Board…

Manama : As part of ongoing government efforts to improve and re-engineer services, the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) has developed its digital service for undertaking requests related to the import of chemicals or units. The service enables establishments to submit undertaking requests in exceptional cases where chemicals or refrigeration and air-conditioning units are imported without prior approval, on a one-time basis. Applicants are required to provide initial data on the imported materials or units to enable the competent authority to assess them and verify that they contain no prohibited or restricted substances before considering approval for an exceptional release.…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today chaired the weekly Cabinet Meeting at Gudaibiya Palace. The Cabinet commended the Bahrain Shield joint military exercise, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain and attended by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The exercise follows a practical extension of the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to strengthen collective security and defence integration within the joint deterrence programmes. The Cabinet also commended the speech delivered by His Majesty the King, the…

Bogota : A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread damage and injuries, with the death toll rising above 20. The earthquake’s epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province on Colombia’s Pacific coast, at a depth of 96 kilometres. The quake was felt across large parts of Colombia and in neighbouring countries, including Venezuela. Reports from local authorities indicated deaths and injuries in several affected cities as buildings collapsed and people were trapped under rubble. In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 20 structures had collapsed, with people trapped, while Manizales and Pereira also…

Sofia : BRAVE Combat Federation (BRAVE CF) recorded strong viewership figures for BRAVE CF 107, held in Bulgaria. The event attracted significant viewership across Asia, particularly in the Indian market, recording about 3.68 million combined live views across YouTube and BRAVE TV. Content related to the event also generated more than 200.2 million views across social media platforms. Mohammad Shahid, President of BRAVE CF, said the figures reflect the organisation’s growing reach, highlighting the strong engagement of Asian audiences, particularly in India. The event also featured Bahraini fighter Mohamed Alsameea, who secured a unanimous decision victory over Switzerland’s Miran Ramani…

Makkah : The Muslim World League (MWL) welcomed the statement issued by members of the UN Security Council on August 7, condemning attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels. In a statement issued by the MWL General Secretariat, Secretary General of the MWL and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al Issa, commended the statement’s emphasis on the need to comply with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216, and to respect the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity…

Damascus : A 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck an area about 107 kilometres northwest of Aleppo in the Syrian Arab Republic, according to the National Earthquake Centre. The centre said the earthquake occurred at 3:42 a.m. along the Dead Sea Fault and was felt by residents in parts of northern Syria.

Jakarta : Indonesian authorities seized 1.3 tonnes of ketamine worth an estimated $116.2 million from a foreign flagged vessel near the Riau Islands. An Indonesian warship intercepted the Tanzania flagged vessel after it entered the country’s territorial waters. Authorities found 65 bags containing ketamine hidden on board. Eight crew members, including seven Myanmar nationals and one Taiwanese national, were detained. Authorities are investigating the origin and intended destination of the shipment.