Author: News Desk

The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) issued its foreign trade report of May 2021, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports. The value of imports increased by 6%, reaching BD402 million during May 2021 compared to BD378 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 66% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 34%. According to the report, Brazil ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD52 million; China was second with BD46 million; and Australia was…

Novavax on Monday reported late-stage data from its U.S.-based clinical trial showing its vaccine is more than 90% effective against COVID-19 across a variety of variants of the virus. The study of nearly 30,000 volunteers in the United States and Mexico puts Novavax on track to file for emergency authorization in the United States and elsewhere in the third quarter of 2021, the company said. Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate was more than 93% effective against the predominant variants of COVID-19 that have been of concern among scientists and public health officials, Novavax said. Protein-based vaccines are a conventional approach…

Bahrain-based Gulf CX has signed contracts worth more than US$ 10m to manage clients’ call centres operating in the GCC and beyond, including a list of over 30 well-known companies operating across the fields of food and nutrition, e-commerce, and retail. Those contracts will contribute to the creation of 450 jobs over the coming three years. The contact centre is also 50% staffed by women and will offer a flexible shift schedule and will allow employees to work remotely to offer maximum flexibility to both employees and customers. With the support of the Economic Development Board (EDB) and other government…

G7 SUMMIT: World leaders promise one billion Covid vaccine doses for poorer nations Leaders of the major industrial nations have pledged one billion Covid vaccine doses to poor countries as a “big step towards vaccinating the world”, Boris Johnson has said. At the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall, the PM said countries were rejecting “nationalistic approaches”. He said vaccinating the world would show the benefits of the G7’s democratic values. There was also a pledge to wipe out their contribution to climate change. After the first meeting of world leaders in two years, Mr Johnson said “the world was…

His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s mixed martial arts company BRAVE Combat Federation has achieved another milestone. After dominating Asia earlier this year, BRAVE CF dominated another continent and officially became the biggest MMA promotion in Europe.  BRAVE CF was established with a vision to reform the MMA industry from an event business to a sports business, and give opportunities to fighters and the entire industry around the world regardless of marketability, language, nationality or religion. His Highness Shaikh Khaled’s vision believed that talent should be the only variable and with that vision achieved what other promotions only…

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, today launched the first-of-its-kind Campaign ‘Achieving the Balance’ that focuses on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) matters. With this Campaign, Alba joins its peers in the GCC to mark the ESG Week under the umbrella of the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC). Alba’s ESG Campaign ‘Achieving the Balance’ will be held virtually until 17 June 2021 and focus on its sustainable initiatives that are aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. Speaking about the ESG Campaign, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali said: “Global challenges such as Climate Change, Environment Conservation,…

World leaders meeting in Cornwall are to adopt strict measures on coal-fired power stations as part of the battle against climate change. The G7 group will promise to move away from coal plants, unless they have technology to capture carbon emissions. It comes as Sir David Attenborough warned that humans could be “on the verge of destabilising the entire planet”. He said G7 leaders faced the most important decisions in human history. VIDEO: Queen Elizabeth insists on cutting cake with sword at G7 event G7 summit kicks off with focus on pandemic and climate change The coal announcement came from…

Photos showing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as he was cycling went viral on social media websites. His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, also featured in the photos with HM the King. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa posted the photos on his Instagram account, commenting “training with the first sport supporter HM the King, May God Almighty bless him with long life. See how lucky we are”. Hours before releasing the photos, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa posted a video…

The Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health has reported 46 violations as it continued its inspection visits to ensure full application of precautionary measures to address COVID-19. The restaurants and cafés were referred to the relevant authorities for legal action. The department on Saturday inspected an additional 211 establishments in its campaign to ensure public health and safety. Establishments that failed to meet the required standards were warned to address the issues and rise up to the needed responsibility levels and implement anti-COVID measures.

G7 SUMMIT: Spending plan to rival China adopted G7 leaders seeking to rival China have adopted a plan to support lower- and middle-income countries in building better infrastructure. President Joe Biden said he wanted the US-backed Build Back Better World (B3W) plan to be a higher-quality alternative to a similar Chinese programme. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has helped finance trains, roads, and ports in many countries. But it has been criticised for saddling some with debt. In a statement at their summit in the English county of Cornwall, the G7 leaders said they would offer a “values-driven, high-standard and…