Local Education Expansion: Muharraq Municipal Council approved a proposal to set up a University of Bahrain academy in the governorate, aiming to cut travel costs for students and widen higher-education access. Parliament Pushback on Iran Claims: MPs condemned Iran’s Kayhan newspaper for renewed allegations about Bahrain, saying the claims attack the kingdom’s sovereignty and Arab identity. Bahrain Finance & Banking: Standard Chartered said it is exploring a sale of its wealth and retail banking business in Bahrain, while keeping its corporate and investment banking operations. Capital Markets Plan: Bahrain Bourse and the Bahrain Association of Banks held a strategy session on the Capital Market Development Plan 2026–2028 “Elevate.” Digital Banking Upgrade: NBB rolled out a redesigned digital app and launched “Pockets,” a goal-based savings feature. Government Digital Services: iGA launched an official WhatsApp channel to help residents access updates on government e-services. Urban Modernisation: Muharraq plans to replace traditional roadside billboards with digital smart screens, starting with a pilot on Muharraq Ring Road. Regional Tensions & Hormuz: As US-Iran talks continue, Iran insists the Strait of Hormuz won’t return to pre-war conditions and says it will manage the waterway under its own arrangements. Diplomacy in the Gulf: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain to discuss the Iran MoU and secure safe transit through Hormuz. Culture in Mourning: Bahrain mourned poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa, described as a key figure in the kingdom’s modern cultural renaissance.