Author: News Desk

Manama : In compliance with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Royal Humanitarian Foundation has started the process of redirecting budgets allocated by official authorities for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of His Majesty’s ascension, to charitable associations and funds. He also commended His Majesty’s commitment to enhancing principles of community partnership, which reflects his appreciation and support for the continuous humanitarian efforts undertaken by charitable associations, funds, and the contributions made by official authorities in community development. The Secretary General also praised the generous support extended by the esteemed government, under the leadership of…

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to His Excellency Sir Keir Starmer, following his appointment as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. HM King Hamad congratulated HE Starmer on the British Labour Party’s success in the general elections. HM the King wished the newly appointed prime minister success in performing his duties. HM King Hamad commended the historic Bahrain-UK relations and emphasised the keenness to further enhance cooperation.

LONDON: Britain’s new prime minister Keir Starmer pledged action to fix the country, not just words, on Friday, but warned the voters who handed him a massive electoral majority and those who voted against, that improvements would take time. Standing outside his new office and residence at Number 10 Downing Street, Starmer cut a serious figure, acknowledging the scale of the challenges that faced him after his party’s landslide victory in a parliamentary election ended 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government. He was greeted by huge cheers and in turn took time before making his speech to shake hands…

Rome : Eruptions at Italy’s Mount Etna and the smaller Stromboli volcano spewed hot ash and lava, raising alert levels on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and forcing a temporary shutdown of Catania Airport on Friday. Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has seen intense activity in recent days, lighting up the sky near the city of Catania, while Stromboli off the northern Sicilian coast has spilled lava into the sea. The fire brigade said they had preemptively doubled the number of firefighters on the island. Around Catania, on the eastern coast of Sicily, residents and authorities moved…

Manama : Ayman bin Tawfiq Al Moayyed, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), emphasised that Arab Youth Day, celebrated on 5 July each year, is an important occasion to recognise the significant role youth play in societal development. It also celebrates the capabilities of Arab youth in Bahrain, acknowledging their priorities as essential leaders and partners who have proven themselves through their achievements and ability to shaping the future. The Secretary-General noted that Bahraini youth receive substantial support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who believes that sustainable development in the kingdom…

ROMA: The United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) identified 90 migrants among those dead or missing in the Central Mediterranean in June. This is equivalent to three people a day, although this figure represents an underestimation because it is based on the information collected by the personnel present at the moment of disembarking operations on the Italian coasts. According to data collected by UNHCR staff in the field in June, the number of deaths and the number of persons missing reached 90, equivalent to three per day. This figure is an underestimation, underscores the Agency because it is based only…

Manama: The Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), in collaborative efforts with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), hosted the inaugural exclusive event titled “FS Horizons: Doubling Down on Finance” today at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. Designed to encourage relevant discussions and foster increased knowledge exchange to further bolster the positive growth trajectory of Bahrain’s financial services sector as a pivotal contributor to the national economy, the event gathered over 100 key stakeholders, government representatives, and C-suite executives from various firms and financial services industry players across Bahrain. The event kicked off with a keynote speech delivered by…

The Bank of Japan could become unprofitable as interest rates rise and the deposits it holds become far more expensive. “It’s quite possible that the BOJ will run in the red,” said Hideo Kumano, executive chief economist at Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute. Analysts add that the independence of the institution could be threatened if it becomes a money-losing entity. The BOJ is now in a race to cut the size of its bond holdings so it can reduce its deposit obligations and the risk that comes with them, they note. Japan’s central bank has a ¥750 trillion ($4.7 trillion) balance…

Manama : The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced the implementation of 817 inspection campaigns and visits, during the period of 23 to 29 June 2024, which resulted in the detention of 62 violating and irregular workers, while 141 violators were deported. The inspection campaigns and visits also resulted in monitoring a number of violations related to the provisions of a number of regulating laws, especially the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and the Residency Laws in the Kingdom of Bahrain, noting that legal measures were taken regarding the observed violations. The authority pointed out that 801 inspection visits were carried…

Manama : Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), announced that the Bahrain International Garden Show will be held next February. The official opening of the show will be on February 19, 2025, and it will be open to the public during February 20-23, 2025, at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir. The Bahrain International Garden Show is a leading regional exhibition that showcases the latest innovations in sustainable agriculture and gardening. It provides a platform for local and international companies to introduce their products, services and technologies to a wide…