Bahrain Court Rejects Appeals on 2018 Elections

A Bahraini voter casts his ballot at a polling station in the city of Al-Muharraq, north of Manama on November 24, 2018. (AFP)
A Bahraini voter casts his ballot at a polling station in the city of Al-Muharraq, north of Manama on November 24, 2018. (AFP)
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Bahrain Court Rejects Appeals on 2018 Elections

A Bahraini voter casts his ballot at a polling station in the city of Al-Muharraq, north of Manama on November 24, 2018. (AFP)
A Bahraini voter casts his ballot at a polling station in the city of Al-Muharraq, north of Manama on November 24, 2018. (AFP)

Bahrain’s Court of Cassation rejected on Monday all appeals on the parliamentary elections.

It confirmed that the electoral process in the parliamentary elections that took place on November 24 and December 1 went as it should.

The Court held its hearings on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Counselor Abdullah Hassan al-Buainain and the membership of Counselors Abdullah Yacoub Abdulrahman and Nader Ali Abdulmuttalib, to consider four electoral appeals submitted by three parliamentary candidates and one municipal candidate.

By this ruling, the Court of Cassation closes all appeals in the parliamentary and municipal elections of 2018.

The court set December 18 as the deadline for receiving appeals in this year’s parliamentary and municipal elections.

Bahrain's parliamentary elections witnessed the largest participation of about 67 percent of the electoral bloc.

Elections also witnessed the widest participation of young people and the highest percentage of women's access to parliamentary seats as six women won in these elections.

MP Fawzia Zainal also became the first female Speaker of the Council of Representatives in the history of the kingdom.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
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Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.