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Bahrain’s King Orders Cabinet Reshuffle, Names New Oil Minister

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
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Bahrain’s King Orders Cabinet Reshuffle, Names New Oil Minister

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ordered a cabinet reshuffle on Monday that included appointing a new oil minister, state media reported.

Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, who was the country's envoy for climate affairs, was named minister of oil and environment, replacing Oil Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

The reshuffle included appointing Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa as deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani as industry and commerce minister and Fatima bint Jaafer al Sairafi as tourism minister.

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said the reshuffle "will bring new ideas and a renewed drive to continue advancing the public sector," the state news agency (BNA) quoted him as saying on Monday.

"The reshuffle, the largest in the country’s history, has resulted in a change of 17 out of 22 ministers, with the introduction of a large proportion of young ministers, including four females", a government spokesperson said.

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Gulf

Qatar Declares Iran’s Security, Military Attache as Persona Non Grata

A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Qatar Declares Iran’s Security, Military Attache as Persona Non Grata

A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Qatar has declared the security and military attache in Iran's embassy as "persona non grata,” asking them ⁠to leave the ⁠country within a period of maximum ⁠24 hours, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Doha attributed the decision to Iran's repeated attacks on the ⁠country, ⁠the latest of which targeted Qatar's Rass Laffan industrial city.

The decision was announced during a meeting between the ministry’s Director of Protocol, Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, and Iran’s Ambassador Ali Salehabadi.

The ministry warned that “the continuation of this hostile approach by the Iranian side will be met with additional measures” by Qatar.

It reaffirmed that Doha “reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, in accordance with the provisions of international law.”

Gulf

GCC Chief Discusses Iranian Aggression against Council States with EU Gulf Envoy

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
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GCC Chief Discusses Iranian Aggression against Council States with EU Gulf Envoy

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi received European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday at the general secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency said Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the grave Iranian attacks on the GCC states, describing them as a blatant threat to regional and international security. They noted that the attacks have caused loss of life and significant material damage, directly endangering civilian safety and security.

The GCC secretary-general reaffirmed the provisions of the joint statement issued by the GCC-EU Joint Ministerial Meeting regarding the Iranian attacks on council states.

He emphasized the vital importance of maintaining the integrity of regional airspace, sea lanes, and the freedom of navigation—including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab El-Mandeb—to ensure the security of supply chains and the stability of global energy markets.

For his part, the EU special representative expressed the solidarity of EU member states with the GCC. He strongly denounced the repeated Iranian aggression against the council states and their negative impact on the security and stability of the region.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Welcomes Temporary Truce between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Ambulances carrying the bodies of victims killed in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center, make their way to the Badam Bagh Hilltop for a funeral and mass burial in Kabul on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
Ambulances carrying the bodies of victims killed in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center, make their way to the Badam Bagh Hilltop for a funeral and mass burial in Kabul on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Temporary Truce between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Ambulances carrying the bodies of victims killed in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center, make their way to the Badam Bagh Hilltop for a funeral and mass burial in Kabul on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
Ambulances carrying the bodies of victims killed in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center, make their way to the Badam Bagh Hilltop for a funeral and mass burial in Kabul on March 18, 2026. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Wednesday the temporary truce agreement reached between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the advent of Eid Al-Fitr.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Kingdom appreciates the willingness of both parties to respond to the calls made by the Kingdom, Qatar, and Türkiye to implement this truce.”

“It emphasizes that prioritizing dialogue and peaceful solutions is the most effective means to resolve ongoing disputes,” it added.

“The Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to continuing tireless diplomatic efforts, in collaboration with brotherly and friendly nations, to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region,” it said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a halt in fighting during celebrations for the end of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike in their escalating conflict killed hundreds in Kabul earlier this week.

Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said the government agreed to a halt to its operations from Thursday to Monday "in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms".

Taliban government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said defending Afghanistan was "a national and religious obligation" and they would respond to any aggression or threat.

Tarar said: "In case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, (operations) shall immediately resume with renewed intensity."