Author: News Desk

Manama : As part of ongoing government efforts to enhance service quality and re-engineer public services, the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has upgraded its monthly fixed payment registration service through the Benefit application. The digital enhancement aims to simplify subscription procedures, improve customer experience, and provide more efficient and user-friendly digital channels for completing transactions. Under the enhanced service, processing time has been reduced from four working days to an instant procedure through full automation via the Benefit app. Subscribers can now complete registration electronically without the need to issue or sign an agreement or wait for confirmation from…

Manama : Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), honoured the winners of the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League Award for Best Social Media Coverage for the 2025/2026 sports season, during a special segment held as part of the Media and Stars Evening. The award, overseen by the Media Office of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was organised under the supervision of a dedicated judging panel comprising national media professionals across various categories. In the Best Overall Coverage category, Bahrain Sports Network (BSN) won first place for its comprehensive coverage…

Manama : The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) has launched the “Madar” system for medical device registration and the “Tatabu” system for tracking medical devices and supplies. The Authority stated that the launch of the two systems forms part of its ongoing efforts to advance digital transformation and enhance the regulatory framework for medical devices and supplies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The initiative is intended to support the efficiency of healthcare services while promoting the highest standards of quality and patient safety. The NHRA noted that the “Madar” system is designed to automate and streamline the registration process for…

Manama : As part of ongoing government efforts to improve service quality and re-engineer procedures, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) enhanced its service for correcting the work permit status of domestic workers registered under deceased employers. The new digital service enables the correction of a domestic worker’s status by issuing a new work permit under another employer or cancelling the existing permit and facilitating the worker’s departure from the Kingdom of Bahrain. Under the enhanced service, processing time has been reduced from 10 working days to one working day, while the number of required documents has been cut by…

Manama : The Mosques and Religious Facilities Directorate at the Islamic Endowments Council has completed a training programme for newly recruited imams and muezzins, aimed at enhancing their readiness to serve in Bahrain’s mosques and support their religious and community roles. The programme brought together 37 participants and delivered 33 hours of training covering religious knowledge, practical skills and professional performance standards. Training focused on core aspects of mosque work, including the duties of imams and muezzins, recitation and voice techniques, Quranic reading skills, and mosque administration, helping participants develop the competencies required to serve worshippers effectively. The courses were…

Manama : The Kingdom of Bahrain ranked among the Top 5 MENA Ecosystems in Performance, which measures the size and performance of an ecosystem based on the accumulated tech startup value created from exits and funding. Bahrain also secured positions among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in AI-Native Cluster, which measures the size and intensity of AI startup activity within the ecosystem, and among the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems in R&D Engine, which measures innovation through research activity. Alya Al Aali, Deputy Chief Executive of Strategy and Insights at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), said that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s distinctive…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today issued a circular announcing the official holiday in observance of Ashura. In accordance with the circular, all ministries, government departments, agencies, and public institutions in the Kingdom will be closed on Thursday and Friday, 25 and 26 June. As Friday falls on an official holiday, it will be compensated with a holiday on Sunday, 28 June.

Mindanao : A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The institute said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 86 kilometres and is not expected to cause significant damage or casualties. Teresito Bacolcol, Director of PHIVOLCS, said the earthquake was not linked to the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck Mindanao on June 8, noting that the epicentres of the two earthquakes were more than 250 kilometres apart. Meanwhile, the Philippine civil defence agency announced that the death toll from last week’s earthquake has risen to 65,…

Washington : Egypt began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Belgium in Group G, earning a point in their opening match. Egypt took the lead in the 19th minute through Emam Ashour, who scored with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. Belgium pushed for an equaliser in the second half and levelled in the 66th minute when defender Mohamed Hany inadvertently turned a cross into his own net under pressure from Romelu Lukaku. Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced key saves to preserve the draw as Egypt secured a point ahead of their remaining…

Washington : Industrial production in the United States recorded a modest increase in May, supported by improved performance in the mining sector, according to a report issued by the US Federal Reserve. The report showed that industrial output rose by 0.1% in May, compared with a revised increase of 0.9% in April. The increase was below analysts’ expectations of 0.2%. The growth was driven by a 1.3% increase in mining output during May, following a 0.2% rise in the previous month. Manufacturing activity was unchanged from April, while utilities output declined by 0.4%. The Federal Reserve also reported that capacity…