Author: News Desk

Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has announced that a total of BD 17 million will be disbursed to the citizens benefiting from government subsidies on September 15, in accordance with the criteria and regulations in force. The move is in line with the Cabinet’s resolution stipulating that subsidies shall be disbursed to eligible citizens across the five programmes in one payment, on the 15th of every month, under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Ministry of Housing. Meanwhile, the allowance to improve the standard of living for retirees will…

Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), Ausamah Abdulla Al-Absi, has stressed the importance of taking part in the vaccine trial, noting that it is necessary in order to ensure reaching a secure vaccine as soon as possible. In a statement to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Al-Absi said that the whole world is waiting eagerly for a solution to COVID-19 in order to restore the pre-pandemic life, noting that this cannot be achieved only through the participation of the citizens and residents in phase III clinical trial for a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine, conducted under the supervision…

Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, has stressed that the declaration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel is a sovereign decision that represents a courageous stance reflecting His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s wisdom and forward-looking vision. He stressed that the move will serve Bahrain’s top interests and contribute to consolidating security and stability, as well as promoting progress and prosperity. The Interior Minister affirmed that Bahrain will remain the land of peace and safety, and the cradle of coexistence and openness to the other, which…

Bahrain joined the United Arab Emirates in agreeing to normalize relations with Israel on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted the news after he spoke by phone to His Highness King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said. “This is truly a historic day,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, saying that he believed other countries would follow suit. “Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase stability, security, and prosperity in the region,” the…

His Majesty King Hamad’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) Chairman, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has expressed delight after his horse “Line of Departure” and filly “Queen Daenerys” secured incredible victories in the Doncaster race in the UK, and the Prix Joubert race at ParisLongchamp, France, respectively. He said that the victories embody His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s unwavering support to equestrian sport in the kingdom, adding that the backing has contributed to stunning achievements in grand events abroad. Shaikh Nasser praised the abilities and…

More than 3,000 volunteers, including citizens and residents, have participated in phase III clinical trial for a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine so far. The National Medical Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) is overseeing the trial of the potential vaccine at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC), as part of its efforts to limit the spread of the pandemic. The participants highlighted the importance of taking part in the clinical trials to contribute to efforts to reach a vaccine to the pandemic from which the entire world is suffering, affirming that their experience was positive, as they reported no health…

Kuwait’s education ministry has suspended all kinds of exams, both paper and online, in the new academic year (2020-2021) for all educational classes until students are able to physically attend schools, a newspaper reported quoting a source from the educational sector. The daily said the Public Education Sector has asked the general instructors to prepare proposals on the evaluation mechanism for intermediate and high school students, which will most likely be as follows: 25 per cent each for attendance, participation, duties and reports. The source clarified there will be no evaluation for kindergarten and primary school students, and their classes…

Egypt will hold parliamentary elections on Oct. 24-25, elections commissioner Lasheen Ibrahim told a televised press conference on Thursday. Egypt last held elections for the House of Representatives in 2015. The chamber is dominated by supporters of President Abel-Fattah al-Sisi, who took power in 2013 after the army removed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi following mass protests against his rule. In 2018 Sisi was re-elected with 97% of votes, the same proportion that the former military commander secured four years ago for his first term but with a lower turnout. In August, Egypt held elections for a newly created Senate, an…

AstraZeneca’s pause of an experimental vaccine for the coronavirus after the illness of a participant is a “wake-up call” but should not discourage researchers, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) chief scientist said on Thursday. “This is a wake-up call to recognise that there are ups and downs in clinical development and that we have to be prepared,” Soumya Swaminathan told a virtual briefing from Geneva. “We do not have to be discouraged. These things happen.” Governments are desperate for a vaccine to help end the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused more than 900,000 deaths and global economic turmoil, and the…

Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) on Thursday has announced that the recruitment of domestic workers will recommence starting on 14 September 2020. The LMRA noted that efforts are currently underway to coordinate with domestic expatriate employees employment offices, approved by the authority. This will ensure a smooth recruitment process which prioritises the health and safety of the Kingdom’s citizens and residents. The LMRA highlighted the importance of increased awareness and commitment by all to ensure mitigation efforts are supported to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In this regard, the LMRA warned against dealing with unlicensed domestic expatriate employees…