Bahrain Forms New Government

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. (AFP)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. (AFP)
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Bahrain Forms New Government

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. (AFP)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. (AFP)

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa approved on Tuesday the new cabinet lineup that was presented by Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, reported the Bahraini news agency (BNA).

King Hamad appointed Prince Khalifa to his post on Sunday and tasked him with nominating members to the new cabinet.

The approved lineup stipulates the appointment of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander as First Deputy Prime Minister.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salem Al-Arrayed and Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa were appointed as deputy premiers.

Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Mutawa was appointed Cabinet Minister, Lieutenant-General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa as Interior Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa as Foreign Minister, Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi as Education Minister, Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza as Minister of Electricity and Water, Sheikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa as Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa as Minister of Oil.

Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa was appointed Minister of Finance and National Economy, Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf as Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan as Minister of Labor and Social Development, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed as Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bassem bin Yacoub Al-Hamer as Minister of Housing, Ghanim bin Fadhl Al-Bouainain as Parliament Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh as Health Minister, Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani as Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi as Minister of Information Affairs, Major-General Abdulla bin Hassan Al-Nuaimi as Defense Affairs Minister and Aymen Tawfiq Almoayyed as Youth and Sports Affairs Minister.



Saudi Crown Prince, France’s Macron Discuss Need to Restore Free Navigation in Hormuz

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, France’s Macron Discuss Need to Restore Free Navigation in Hormuz

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron on the talks to end the war on Iran. 

In a post on the X platform, Macron said they tackled the situation in the Middle East. He renewed his support for the ceasefire, “which should be respected in full and be expanded to include Lebanon without delay.” 

“We also discussed the need to restore free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” Macron added. 

“With the negotiations kicking off in Islamabad, we agreed to remain in close contact to help in de-escalation and freedom of navigation and to reach an agreement that ensures permanent peace and security in the region,” stressed Macron. 

Macron also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, urging ″respect for the ceasefire and its application to Lebanon.” 

The French leader did not mention the negotiations in Pakistan, but said he and Erdogan ″underlined the need for a robust and lasting diplomatic solution.” 

Macron has been speaking regularly with other world leaders about the war and helping lead efforts for a mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting calms.  

He has been particularly active in pushing for peace in Lebanon, a former French protectorate with close ties to France. 

Macron said on Saturday that he had spoken with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, and had highlighted ‌to ‌him the ‌importance ⁠of de-escalating the current ⁠situation through the ceasefire talks in Pakistan. 

"I stressed the need for ⁠Iran to restore ‌freedom ‌of navigation and ‌security in the ‌Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible, to which ‌France stands ready to contribute. ⁠I ⁠insisted on the importance of fully respecting the ceasefire, including in Lebanon," he said in a post on X. 

“France gives its full support to the Lebanese authorities, who are the only ones who can decide on Lebanon’s destiny.” 


Pakistani Military Force Arrives in Saudi Arabia Under Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
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Pakistani Military Force Arrives in Saudi Arabia Under Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday the arrival of a military force from Pakistan at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector, acting in accordance with the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed between the two countries.

The force, which includes fighter and support aircraft from the Pakistani Air Force, aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani militaries to further support regional and international security and stability.

Riyadh ‌and Islamabad signed a mutual defense pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat ⁠any aggression against ⁠either country as an attack on both. 


Saudi Foreign Minister, Belgian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
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Saudi Foreign Minister, Belgian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Maxime Prévost, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency said on Friday.

During the call, they discussed recent regional developments and the efforts being made to address them.