Author: News Desk

Washington : His Excellency Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced that the US will establish a $12 billion strategic reserve for rare earth elements. According to the Associated Press (AP), Trump said that the reserve aims to prevent supply shortages for American companies. President Trump announced the start of “Project Vault,” which would initially be funded by $10 billion from the US Export-Import Bank and nearly $1.67 billion in private capital. The minerals kept in the reserve would help to shield the manufacturers of autos, electronics and other goods from any supply chain disruptions. Rare earth elements…

Manama : Lieutenant General Tariq bin Hassan Al Hassan, Chief of Police, attended the graduation ceremony of a number of specialised courses involving personnel from the Ministry of Interior and the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). The courses were organised by the VIP Protection Training Centre at the Directorate of Protocols and VIP Protection, in the presence of a number of senior officers and officials from the ministry. Lt. Gen. Al Hassan commended the support and attention extended by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, towards developing human capital across various domains of work. He said that…

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 speech delivered by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during His Majesty’s patronage of the Bahrain First Festival 2026. The Cabinet also commended the organisational efforts of the Ministry of Education, as well as the contributions of students and parents to the success of the festival. On the 58th anniversary of the establishment of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), the Cabinet commended the BDF’s continued advancements in enhancing…

Manama : The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) carried out 1,549 inspection campaigns and visits between 25 and 31 January 2026.  These resulted in the arrest of 17 violating and irregular workers, while 146 violators were deported during the same period. The inspection campaigns and visits also led to the detection of a number of violations related to several regulating laws, in particular the Labour Market Regulatory Authority Law and the Residency Law in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Legal measures were taken against the recorded violations. The LMRA explained that 1,513 inspection visits were conducted at various commercial establishments across…

Manama : The Ministry of Interior announced that the smart camera system operated by the General Directorate of Traffic has officially been activated and has recorded various violations. These include using a mobile phone while driving and failing to wear a seat belt, following the announcement of the launch of the first phase of the system, after ensuring the technical infrastructure is ready and can operate efficiently under different conditions. The General Directorate of Traffic noted that to ensure the timely delivery of traffic notifications, including those related to vehicle registration dates, driving licence renewals, as well as recorded violations,…

Dubai : Yousif bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, Minister of Labour and Minister of Legal Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), participated in the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Consultation, held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from January 31 to February 1, with the participation of ministers responsible for labour affairs, alongside a number of specialised regional and international organisations. The meeting addressed several strategic themes related to strengthening labour cooperation frameworks among participating countries, including labour mobility, skills pathways and productivity to support a just transition towards the…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today met with the Honourable E. David Burt, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda, at Gudaibiya Palace. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted the shared commitment to enhancing cooperation with Bermuda to promote growth and prosperity and achieve common aspirations. His Royal Highness also emphasised the importance of continuing to advance joint coordination to create future opportunities in the interests of both nations. During the meeting, the following was announced: 1. The granting of sovereignty to Bermuda over the data of subscribers…

Manama :  As part of his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Honourable E. David Burt, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda, visited the Bahrain National Museum. The Premier of Bermuda was received by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA). Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed underscored the strength of relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Bermuda, expressing his aspiration to expand bilateral cooperation across various domains, particularly in the cultural sector. He highlighted the importance of fostering effective partnerships that encourage cultural investment and serve the mutual…

Manama : The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) announced that the Isa Town Customer Service Centre has joined the Mawaeed application, enabling appointment booking for birth and death certificate services, as well as building and establishment address services, effective Sunday, February 1, 2026. The iGA said the service provides an additional appointment booking channel alongside existing digital services, allowing users who prefer in-person visits to book appointments in advance through the Mawaeed app. The application is available for download via the eGovernment App Store at bahrain.bh/apps, as well as Android, iOS, and Huawei app stores. The new system replaces the…

Kinshasa : More than 200 people were killed after the Rubaya coltan mine collapsed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local sources. The incident occurred on Wednesday, with initial estimates indicating that up to 227 people remain missing. Victims included miners as well as civilians present at a nearby market, while several injured people were rescued and taken for treatment. The Rubaya mine produces around 15 percent of global coltan output, a mineral used to extract tantalum for advanced electronics, including mobile phones and computers. Mining operations are largely carried out manually in an area under the…