Times of Bahrain, Office No. 2041, Building No. 747, Road No. 1124, Block, Al Salmaniya, Capital Governorate, Manama (2026)

10/09/2026

Bahrain Court Fines and Deports Two Women for Working Without Permits

Manama: The Lower Criminal Court has fined two expatriate women BD10 each for working as hourly domestic workers without valid work permits. The court also ordered their deportation and banned them from re-entering Bahrain for three years.

The employer who hired the women without the required permits was fined BD2,000.

One of the defendants challenged the ruling before the High Criminal Appeals Court and subsequently the Court of Cassation. However, both courts upheld the original verdict issued by the Lower Criminal Court.

The case came to light during an inspection campaign conducted by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), which identified unauthorised cleaning-service advertisements posted on Instagram. LMRA officials placed a cleaning order through one of the advertisements, and the two women were arrested when they arrived to carry out the work.

Hidd Police Station Chief Colonel Dr Osama Bahar urged citizens and residents to hire domestic workers only through agencies approved by the LMRA. He also advised the public to verify workers’ identity documents and medical examination reports before employing them.

Currently, 120 LMRA-approved manpower agencies are operating across Bahrain.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

10/09/2026

BRAVE CF 108 Marks Three Major Milestones in MMA’s Global Evolution

Manama: BRAVE Combat Federation’s latest event in Croatia delivered more than nine action-packed bouts, marking three significant milestones in the Bahrain-born promotion’s international growth, historic presentation and digital innovation.

Held on September 5 at the iconic P**a Arena, BRAVE CF 108 made Croatia the 18th European nation and 39th country worldwide to host a BRAVE CF event. The achievement further strengthened the organisation’s global strategy of bringing world-class MMA to established destinations and emerging markets.

BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid said the promotion remains committed to entering new markets, developing athletes and building an international ecosystem that supports the growth of MMA.

The second milestone was staging a major international MMA event inside P**a Arena, one of the world’s six largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres. Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the historic venue provided a spectacular setting for the “Modern Gladiators” theme.

BRAVE CF became the first truly global MMA organisation to stage a major event inside a Roman amphitheatre, connecting ancient combat traditions with modern competition. Former BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Champion Stephen “The Sniper” Loman also made his highly anticipated return in the co-main event.

The third breakthrough came through broadcasting technology. BRAVE CF 108 introduced dedicated 9:16 vertical livestreams across YouTube, Facebook and X, offering mobile audiences a viewing experience designed specifically for smartphone screens.

Shahid said the initiative reflected BRAVE CF’s commitment to adapting to changing viewing habits and creating innovative experiences for modern sports audiences.

By expanding into a new market, transforming an ancient landmark into a modern MMA stage and embracing mobile-first broadcasting, BRAVE CF 108 demonstrated how the sport’s evolution extends far beyond the cage.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain Kerala Samajam to Celebrate Kerala’s Dance Heritage with ‘Arudra’ Mega Thiruvathira

Manama: Bahrain Kerala Samajam (BKS), under the auspices of its Women’s Forum, will organise ‘Arudra’, a mega Thiruvathira performance celebrating the beauty and traditions of Kerala’s distinctive group dance.

The event will be held at the Samajam Diamond Jubilee Hall on Friday, September 11, at 6 p.m., as part of the Onam celebrations ‘Shravanam 2026’.

More than 100 women will participate in the mega Thiruvathira, choreographed by renowned choreographer Preman Chalakudy.

Kerala State Minister for Culture and Tourism P.C. Vishnunath will attend the programme as the chief guest.

A special visual presentation titled ‘Parvathy Parinayam’ will also be staged before the Thiruvathira performance. The production is written, composed and directed by Ajith Nair, with choreography by Sreenesh Sreenivasan.

Nimmi Roshan, Suvita Rakesh, Shaitya Roshjith and Vigina Santhosh are coordinating the programme.

BKS President P.V. Radhakrishna Pillai, General Secretary Varghese Karakkal, Women’s Forum President Mohini Thomas and Shravanam General Convener Harikrishnan B. Nair invited art lovers across Bahrain to attend the festive evening and experience the beauty, cultural richness and artistic heritage of Kerala’s traditional performing arts.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Venu Vadakara Honoured with PGF Karma Jyoti Award for Outstanding Community Service

Manama: The Pravasi Guidance Forum (PGF), an organisation of professional counsellors in Bahrain, has selected prominent social activist Venu Vadakara for its annual Karma Jyoti Award.

The award recognises his outstanding contributions to Bahrain’s socio-cultural sector over the past three decades and his dedicated efforts to address issues affecting the expatriate Malayali community.

Previous recipients include Dr. Babu Ramachandran, Chandran Thikkodi, S.V. Jaleel, Francis Kaitharath, Salam Mampattumoola, P.V. Radhakrishna Pillai, Subair Kannur, P. Unnikrishnan, Manoj Vadakara and Basheer Ambalayi.

PGF also announced its awards for organisation members. Rashmi S. Nair will receive the PGF Prodigy Award, while Biju Thomas has been selected for the Best Counsellor Award. Rose Lazar will receive the Best Faculty Award, Ranjith John the Best Social Worker Award and Jisha Anu William the Best Coordinator Award.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony at K City Auditorium in Salmaniya on October 2, 2026. The programme will also feature Onam celebrations and a traditional Onam feast.

A NORKA-approved organisation, PGF is led by a 32-member executive committee headed by President Binu Biju and General Secretary Biju K.P.

A native of Chemmarathur in Vadakara, Kozhikode, Venu has lived in Bahrain for 35 years. He actively promotes awareness of expatriate welfare programmes, NORKA services and the Pravasi Welfare Fund. He is particularly recognised for helping bereaved families secure NORKA death benefits and other assistance, earning widespread appreciation for his compassionate and selfless community service.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain Chairs GCC Tourism Meeting to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

Manama: Sara Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), chaired a virtual meeting of GCC tourism undersecretaries as part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The meeting was held in preparation for the 10th meeting of the Committee of GCC Tourism Ministers.

Officials discussed joint efforts to strengthen the tourism sector across GCC countries and reviewed progress in implementing initiatives under the regional tourism support plan. These included joint tourism promotion, media initiatives and the continued development of the GCC Tourism Data Dashboard.

The meeting also reviewed coordinated promotional programmes and marketing campaigns, as well as the exchange of expertise and knowledge in tourism statistics and data.

Other topics included the unified tourism guide licence across GCC countries, the Gulf Tourism Capital initiative, international cooperation in tourism, joint activities and events, and unified guidelines for hotel classification.

The discussions highlighted the GCC countries’ commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing the Gulf’s tourism appeal and supporting sustainable growth across the sector.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain to Host First Cardiovascular Diseases Conference

Manama: The Royal Medical Services (RMS), in cooperation with BDA Conferences and Exhibitions, will organise Bahrain’s first Cardiovascular Diseases Conference on September 11 and 12. The event will bring together doctors, specialists and healthcare professionals involved in cardiovascular care.

Held under the supervision of Conference Chairman Dr. Hussam Noor and Scientific Committee Chairman Dr. Noor Al Daem Yousif, the conference aims to advance continuing medical education, facilitate the exchange of medical knowledge and expertise, and strengthen collaboration among medical professionals across different specialities and levels of care.

The scientific programme will address a wide range of cardiovascular topics, with particular emphasis on practical challenges, complex clinical cases and decision-making in daily medical practice. It will also highlight integrated, patient-centred care across primary and secondary healthcare facilities and specialised cardiac centres.

The conference is designed for medical students, general practitioners, emergency physicians, internal medicine doctors and specialists. It has been accredited by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) for 12 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits.

Those interested in participating may register through Bdacenter.net.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain Expresses Solidarity with DR Congo Following Deadly Kinshasa Fire

Manama: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo following a fire at an events hall in the capital, Kinshasa, which resulted in several deaths and injuries.

The Ministry extended Bahrain’s sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the tragic incident. It also wished all those injured a swift and full recovery.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain Court Sentences Defendant to One Year for Insulting Islamic Symbols Online

Manama: The Lower Criminal Court has convicted a defendant and sentenced him to one year in prison with immediate effect for publishing social media posts insulting revered Islamic figures, the Chief Prosecutor of the Cybercrime Prosecution stated.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the defendant’s mobile phone.

According to the Chief Prosecutor, the posts contained expressions of public contempt for Islamic symbols and had the potential to incite discord and undermine social cohesion and public peace.

The case began after the Public Prosecution received a report from the Cybercrime Directorate at the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security. The report stated that the defendant had published posts containing insulting and abusive remarks directed at figures regarded as revered Islamic symbols. The posts were subsequently circulated widely on social media.

Following the report, the Cybercrime Prosecution launched an investigation and ordered the defendant’s arrest. During questioning, he was confronted with the posts and the findings of the investigation and admitted to publishing the content.

Based on the evidence gathered, the Public Prosecution remanded the defendant in custody and referred the case to criminal trial, resulting in the one-year prison sentence.

The Chief Prosecutor reaffirmed the Public Prosecution’s commitment to confronting the unlawful use of social media for criminal purposes, particularly content that insults sacred figures or religious symbols and threatens the cohesion of Bahrain’s national fabric.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

09/09/2026

Bahrain Strongly Condemns Iranian Missile Attacks on Jordan

Manama: The Kingdom of Bahrain has strongly condemned the continued Iranian attacks against the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including the launch of several ballistic missiles.

Bahrain described the attacks as a blatant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, warning that they pose a serious threat to regional security and stability.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Bahrain’s full solidarity with Jordan and its support for all measures taken to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and stability, as well as the safety of its citizens and residents.

The Ministry also praised the vigilance and readiness of the Jordanian Armed Forces’ air defence systems, which successfully intercepted the missiles and prevented the attacks from achieving their objectives.

Bahrain renewed its call for the UN Security Council to fulfil its responsibilities and take firm action to compel Iran to halt its aggressive actions against countries in the region. It stressed the importance of de-escalating tensions and safeguarding regional peace and security.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

08/09/2026

Young Violinist Ganga Sasidharan to Enchant Bahrain with Special Carnatic Performance

Manama: Acclaimed young violinist Ganga Sasidharan will present a special musical performance at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam on Thursday, September 10, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is part of the Samajam’s Onam celebration, Sraavanam 2026.

Ganga began learning the violin at the age of four and a half and quickly emerged as a remarkable talent in Carnatic music. She gained widespread recognition following her performance on Ekadashi Day at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in 2023.

Since then, she has performed at concerts across India and at international venues, including in Bahrain and Dubai. Despite her young age, Ganga has already participated in more than 200 classical music concerts and attracted a significant following on social media.

Known for her expressive performances and technical brilliance, Ganga presents traditional Carnatic compositions and keerthanas alongside film-song medleys and fusion music. She is currently receiving advanced musical training under renowned violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan of the celebrated Ganesh–Kumaresh duo.

Ganga was awarded the Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship in Music for 2024–2026. She is the youngest recipient, the only violinist and the only artist from Kerala selected for the fellowship during this period.

Samajam President P. V. Radhakrishna Pillai, General Secretary Varghese Karakkal and Sraavanam Convener Harikrishnan B. Nair said the concert would offer Bahrain’s music lovers a rare opportunity to experience Carnatic tradition and contemporary musical expression on one stage.

Admission is free.

Stay tuned to Times of Bahrain for the latest updates.

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