Bahrain-India Diplomacy: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bahrain’s FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama, praising support for the Indian community and discussing deeper bilateral cooperation across energy, trade, investment, connectivity and security. SME Support: Bahrain Chamber says it resolved 88% of SME complaints by end-June 2026, clearing 55 of 62 cases, with the rest either pending or referred outside its jurisdiction. Digital Justice Payments: Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice launched an instant electronic payment system for enforcement and maintenance claims, cutting settlement time from days to real-time and reducing paperwork. Capital Markets Push: CBB and Bahrain Bourse discussed regulatory upgrades to deliver the 2026-2028 “Elevate” capital markets plan, aiming to boost liquidity, participation and investor confidence. Islamic Finance Standard: AAOIFI approved in principle FAS 54 on direct costs for Sharia-compliant transactions, expected to be formally issued later this year. Housing Delivery: Eskan Bank signed a consultancy deal with Al A’ali Engineering for 72 residential units (Askar and Hamad Town), supporting the Royal Directive to accelerate housing projects. Environment & Compliance: Bahrain Chamber welcomed Cabinet’s ban on single-use plastic bags under 57 microns, urging businesses to shift to eco-friendly alternatives. Property Market: Bahrain recorded 5,038 property sale deals worth BD671.03m in the first half of 2026, with March the weakest month.