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Historic Victory for Women in Bahrain Elections

Vote counting in Manama. Asharq Al-Awsat
Vote counting in Manama. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Historic Victory for Women in Bahrain Elections

Vote counting in Manama. Asharq Al-Awsat
Vote counting in Manama. Asharq Al-Awsat

Bahraini women made history last week by winning six legislative seats, 15 percent of the Parliament’s representation, during legislative elections that saw the victory of about 92 percent of fresh-faced independents.

“The total number of women in Parliament increased 100 percent compared to its level in the previous legislature,” Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday.

“Some women got 5,000 votes, competing with the strongest candidates,” Al Ansari said.

Last Friday, Bahrainis had to vote for a second time in a week after the first round of voting left dozens of seats unfilled.

In the Nov. 24 elections, two women had won from nine legislative seats in the 40-seat Parliament.

In the second round, four women were elected for 31 seats not secured during the first round of voting.

According to the final results, Masooma Abdulrahim of the capital’s sixth district, Sawsan Kamal of the capital’s second district and Kaltham Abdulkareem of the northern first district won against their male opponents, while Zainab Abdulameer defeated her female competitor Afaf al-Mosawi in the capital’s seventh district.

When Bahrain held its first elections in 2002, all 31 women candidates lost.

Later in 2006, 18 female candidates ran for the elections but only one candidate, Lateefa al-Gaood, won.

In 2014, three women secured legislative seats.

After the official results of the parliamentary elections were announced on Sunday, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa issued a royal order accepting the Cabinet’s resignation.

He assigned Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa to take care of urgent state affairs pending the formation of the new Cabinet.

Yasser Isa Al Nasser, the Cabinet Secretary General, said that the Prime Minister had announced the resignation of the government in a letter presented to the King.

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Gulf

Albudaiwi: Stability of the Gulf Is Now a Common Int’l Interest

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
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Albudaiwi: Stability of the Gulf Is Now a Common Int’l Interest

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed on Saturday that the latest developments demonstrate that security of the Middle East and Europe are "unprecedentedly" connected.

He said the GCC member states consistently seek to bolster security, stability, development, and prosperity to serve the mutual interests of the people in the region and entire world, noting the rapid geopolitical shifts and growing security and economic challenges facing the globe.

Albudaiwi was speaking at a panel session on GCC-European strategic links on the sidelines of the GLOBSEC Global Security Forum 2026 in Prague.

"The GCC General Secretariat’s participation in the GLOBSEC Global Security Forum 2026 embodies its keenness to maintain an active presence in regional and international forums," he continued.

"This engagement aims to bolster communication and exchange perspectives with international partners, decision-makers, and experts, thereby supporting efforts to maintain regional and international security while keeping pace with rapid global changes."

On the conflict in the Middle East, he said: "GCC states have sustained their continuous diplomatic efforts to de-escalate and defuse tensions in the region, promoting paths of dialogue and diplomacy to protect regional security, stability, and the safety of its peoples."

He underscored the paramount importance of protecting the security of air and maritime corridors, ensuring freedom of navigation, the safety of supply chains, and the stability of global energy markets.

"The stability of the Gulf region remains a fundamental pillar for the stability of the global economy and international maritime security," added Albudaiwi.

Furthermore, he explained that recent developments have proven that the security of Europe and the Middle East has become unprecedentedly interconnected.

"Any disruption in the Gulf region and its surrounding maritime passages directly affects the European economy, global energy security, supply chains, and international stability as a whole," he remarked.

"Gulf stability is no longer merely a regional matter, but has become a shared international interest," he continued.

Discussing the future of Gulf-European relations, he said that both sides aspire to elevate their ties to broader horizons.

The upcoming GCC-EU Summit will help in cementing cooperation across numerous fields and achieving the mutual interests of both parties, he added, while underlining the significance of reaching tangible results that serve both sides and elevate their ongoing cooperation.

Gulf

Saudi FM, Arab and Islamic States Condemn Israeli Actions against Gaza Flotilla Activists

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Saudi FM, Arab and Islamic States Condemn Israeli Actions against Gaza Flotilla Activists

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye strongly condemned the appalling conduct of extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir against activists in the Gaza-bound flotilla while they were held in Israeli detention.

The ministers stressed that Ben-Gvir’s deliberate public humiliation of detainees constitutes a disgraceful affront to human dignity and a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The ministers further condemned in the strongest terms the illegal and extremist acts of incitement and violence by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials directed against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The ministers warned that Ben-Gvir’s provocative actions fuel hatred and extremism, and obstruct efforts to advance a just and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution.

The ministers demanded accountability for the actions of Ben-Gvir and called for concrete measures to end his repeated provocations, incitement, and violations. They also urged steps to prevent him from posing further threats, and to ensure that such actions are neither tolerated nor repeated.

They further stressed the imperative of protecting human rights, safeguarding the dignity and humane treatment of all detainees, and ensuring full respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Gulf

Hajj Pilgrims Flock to Mina on Day of Tarwiyah

Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
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Hajj Pilgrims Flock to Mina on Day of Tarwiyah

Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)

Hajj pilgrims will complete their arrival to Mina on Monday to complete the Day of Tarwiyah amid an integrated system of services prepared by Saudi authorities to ensure that they have a smooth journey throughout their pilgrimage and stay in the Kingdom.

Saudi Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel stressed that no diseases or viruses were detected at the Hajj, easing concerns over the Hantavirus that has captured headlines in recent weeks.

There is no need to be alarmed and pilgrims are in good health, he assured.

Thousands of security forces are on the ground to ensure that the pilgrims flock to Mina safely through dedicated routes. The holy sites in the Makkah are connected through several roads, tunnels and dedicated walking paths.

The pilgrims were making their way from Makkah to Mina without incident thanks to the integrated transportation system made available by the authorities overseeing the Hajj.

The Health Ministry has issued guides for the pilgrims on the optimal use of their umbrellas amid the high temperatures and to avoid heatstroke and UV rays, especially as they make their way to the holy sites.

Meanwhile, the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro line operated its first ride on Sunday. It will transport pilgrims across the holy sites, including Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Each of the nine trains can transport 3,000 passengers. This year’s operational plan for the Hajj is aiming to transport over 2 million passengers over 2,000 trips.

The train plays a pivotal role in ensuring the transport is smooth across the holy sites. It has also helped ease traffic after over 50,000 bus rides were cancelled in favor of the use of the trains.