1 month ago
Night Building Curbs Urged After Daily Complaints
Students, workers and elderly residents are losing sleep to late-night building work, leading to calls for strict limits on when contractors can use noisy machinery. Abdulla Abdul Latif, chairman of the Southern Municipal Council, told sources that complaints over night-time construction noise reach him daily. He said builders who break the rules should face proposed fines of up to BD5,000. He named Blocks 914 and 934 among areas where residents have complained and proposed limiting noisy work in housing areas to 6 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ‘Every day I receive complaints,’ Mr Abdul Latif said. ‘Students and employees need to sleep, and this affects the quality of their work.’ He said drilling, breaking concrete, heavy machinery use, and roadworks late at night leave families struggling to rest. Some asphalting is carried out around 1am to avoid traffic, he said, but the noise from machinery can still carry into nearby homes. Mr Abdul Latif said the strain is especially hard on older people, patients and workers returning home tired after night shifts. He wants construction permits to specify exactly when work can take place, with separate hours where needed during the summer and the same rules […]
1 month ago
Bahrain Takes Top Spot for Black Carbon Cuts
Bahrain has taken joint first place worldwide for cutting black carbon emissions, scoring a perfect 100 in one of the key measures used by the 2026 Environmental Performance Index. The kingdom shared the top spot with Kuwait in the measure tracking the fall in black carbon emissions, while also ranking among three Gulf states at the head of the table for curbing bottom trawling in national waters. The findings put Bahrain among the strongest Gulf performers in two areas with direct effects on air quality, the climate and marine life. Its gains have also built over time. Bahrain’s overall Environmental Performance Index score rose by 2.26 points between 2016 and 2026, according to the latest weekly bulletin from the GCC Statistical Centre. The six GCC states as a whole scored above the world average. Their mean score stood at 42.12 points, against 39.57 worldwide. Bahrain’s perfect black carbon score tracks the drop in soot-like particles produced by the incomplete burning of fuels. Such emissions harm air quality and warm the atmosphere. At sea, Bahrain was one of three Gulf countries ranked first worldwide for limiting bottom trawling within national waters. The fishing method drags nets across the seabed and can […]
1 month ago
Driver Detained After Red-Light Crash
A driver has been detained pending investigation after running a red pedestrian traffic light on Shaikh Jaber Al Sabah Avenue and seriously injuring a child. The Public Prosecution said the driver failed to exercise due care and collided with the pedestrian while the pedestrian signal was green. During questioning, the driver was shown video footage of the incident and admitted to the charges. The prosecution ordered his detention and requested the necessary medical and technical reports as part of the investigation.
1 month ago
Two Arrested Over Al Hidd Refrigerator Theft
Muharraq Governorate Police arrested two Asian men, aged 62 and 32, for allegedly breaking into a refrigerator used to store food products for sale and stealing its contents in Al Hidd. The Ministry of Interior said police launched search and investigation operations after receiving a report about the theft. The investigation led to the identification and arrest of the two suspects. Legal procedures are underway before the suspects are referred to the Public Prosecution.
1 month ago
His Majesty Issues Royal Pardon For 459 Inmates
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, has issued a special royal pardon for 459 prison inmates, both Omani citizens and foreigners, who were convicted in various cases. The royal pardon comes on the occasion of the Prophet’s Birthday 1448 AH, and reflects His Majesty’s consideration for the families of the inmates. The pardon was issued as a gesture of compassion and in keeping with the significance of the occasion.
1 month ago
Bahrain’s non-oil GDP at constant prices grew by 2.2% in Q1
Non-oil sectors cushion Bahrain’s economy amid sharp oil downturn in Q1 2026 Bahrain’s non-oil GDP at constant prices grew by 2.2% in Q1 2026, according to Bahrain Economic Quarterly Report for Q1 2026 released by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. The report, carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA), noted that the national economy recorded strong performance in January and February 2026, before it was impacted in March 2026 due to the hostile Iranian aggression on Bahrain. GDP at constant prices contracted by 3.8% YoY in Q1 2026, driven by a 37.2% decline in oil activities, primarily due to the imposed restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz which affected export capacity, alongside scheduled maintenances. In spite of local circumstances, non-oil activities continued to expand, recording growth of 2.2% YoY. At current prices, GDP contracted by 2.7% YoY, caused by the 31.1% decline in oil activities, compared to a 1.9% increase in non-oil activities. The report highlights the pivotal role of non-oil activities, which contributed 90.1% to GDP at constant prices during Q1 2026, with 9 out of 13 non-oil economic activities recording positive growth. Among non-oil activities, Financial and Insurance Activities remained the largest contributor to […]
1 month ago
Bahrain MOE Scholarship Programme 2026-2027: Eligibility and How to Apply
Bahrain’s Ministry of Education has opened registration for its academic scholarships for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, and for high-achieving Bahraini school leavers this remains the single biggest source of funded university places in the country. The programme offers hundreds of scholarships across dozens of fields, covering study at universities in Bahrain as well as places abroad. The headline requirement is steep. The top scholarship track is aimed at Bahraini secondary school graduates with a cumulative average of at least 95 per cent. If that describes your household, this guide explains what the programme covers, how to apply and what to prepare. Details can change between announcements, so treat the Ministry of Education portal as the final word on every date and requirement. What the MOE scholarship programme is Each year the ministry publishes a scholarship plan tied to the incoming academic year. It allocates funded places across a long list of study fields, with the largest share going to local institutions, including the University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic and several of the kingdom’s private universities. A smaller portion funds study abroad, and recent plans have included destinations across the GCC alongside Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United States […]
1 month ago
Fencing a Plot Does Not Make It a Warehouse
Muharraq Municipality has reminded residents that having space on a property does not automatically permit it to be used for commercial storage. The municipality said garages, yards and vacant plots cannot be turned into storage areas simply by filling them with goods or fencing them off with a gate. Whether a site can be used for storage depends on its zoning classification, approved planning maps, permitted uses and the type and quantity of materials involved. Authorities also consider access routes, vehicle and pedestrian movement, fencing and site preparation, as well as applicable technical, regulatory and safety requirements. The municipality warned that unregulated storage can increase fire risks, attract rodents and insects, create unpleasant odours and cause materials to accumulate, potentially affecting neighbouring properties and the appearance and safety of the surrounding area. Construction, alterations, fencing and site preparation requiring permits are governed by Decree-Law No. 13 of 1977 on the Regulation of Buildings and its amendments, along with applicable planning regulations and zoning decisions. Residents planning to use a property for storage are advised to check its classification and permitted uses, ensure compliance with planning requirements and obtain all necessary approvals and permits before preparing the site or storing goods.
1 month ago
Worker remanded over mistreatment of two horses in Karzakan
The Public Prosecution has ordered the pretrial detention of a stable worker accused of mistreating two horses in Karzakan after CCTV footage allegedly showed him attacking the animals. The Northern Governorate Chief Prosecutor said the Public Prosecution received a report from Southern Hamad Town Police Station concerning the incident after the stable owner noticed wounds and injuries on two horses. According to the prosecution, surveillance footage showed the worker attacking one horse with a knife and throwing stones at another, causing injuries to both animals. The suspect was questioned and confronted with the investigation findings and the CCTV footage. He admitted to the allegations, following which the Public Prosecution ordered his detention pending the investigation and preparation for his referral to criminal trial. Stable owner Ayman Mahdi said he had noticed three horses dying at the stable since the beginning of August before discovering that his one-year-and-five-month-old Spanish horse, Safi, had suffered a deep stab wound. Mahdi said Safi had been healthy when he last saw him. A veterinarian decided not to stitch the wound over concerns that fluid could accumulate and cause it to rupture. The horse is currently receiving antibiotics and topical treatment. Mahdi said the worker, a […]
1 month ago
BD500 Settlement for Hiring Workers Without Permits
Employers who hire foreign workers without valid permits face a BD500 settlement payment, rising to BD1,000 for repeat breaches, under Bahrain’s labour market law. Lawyer Jassim Al Essa told The Daily Tribune the rules were aimed at cutting the hiring of expatriate workers where there was no real need for them and tackling irregular labour and sham businesses. ‘The recruitment of foreign workers without an actual need for them is one of the main causes behind the spread of irregular labour,’ he said. The penalties were introduced under Decree-Law No. 12 of 2024, which amended Article 40 of Law No. 19 of 2006 regulating the labour market. The law bars an employer from hiring a foreign worker unless a work permit has been issued in line with the law. Employers are also barred from using workers in breach of permit terms. An employer caught doing so can settle the offence by paying BD500. For a repeat breach, the sum rises to BD1,000. Al Essa said the law was also meant to deal with workers who end up ‘in the streets seeking work’ after being brought into Bahrain without a genuine job waiting for them. He said it also placed legal […]
