Majesty Kinghammed bin Khalifa met with the president of the Hellenic Republic Constantinos to Solas at the presidential palace in the Greek capital Athens on the occasion of his majesty's visit to Greece. Upon arrival, his majesty the king was received by the Greek president. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. The Greek president welcomed his majesty and praised his visit which advances Bahraini Greek relations. His Majesty expressed thanks and appreciation to the president for the warm welcome and generous hospitality and his hope that this visit would mark a new and significant milestone for further development and growth in relations between the two friendly nations. At the beginning of the meeting, the Greek president and the king delivered presses on the occasion. istolon. Foreistomen. Many status. economic Apostolic. syndrome strate Epiptosis, aneton, paranom, Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Shukran. for Police Sophas. afterchech. Tylosch. format. Shiach. polymorphia. Poly Pharaoh. for Senadon Catch. foreign. The two sides reviewed aspects of the bilateral relations and ways to support joint cooperation in various fields for the prosperity of the two countries and their people. They also discuss regional and international developments of mutual interest foremost among which are the latest developments in the Middle East. Both sides emphasize the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and the security of waterways particularly in the straight of Hormuz and the bubblemen strait and the necessity that any arrangements regarding them be based on international law and the United Nations convention on the law of the sea to ensure the safety of international trade and the smooth functioning of supply chains. At the conclusion of their meeting, his majesty the king and the Greek president affirmed the two count's commitment to continuing to advance their relations and to strengthening joint efforts in the manner that serves their mutual interest. They also affirmed their support for all efforts aimed at achieving security, stability, prosperity, and peace in the Middle East and the best interests of the region's countries and peoples. His majesty the king renewed his invitation to the president to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting between his majesty Kinghammed bin Isa al- Khalifa and the president of Greece, his excellency Coststanti Stasulas reaffirms the deeprooted historical ties between Bahrain and Greece built on a solid foundation of mutual respect and understanding. During their discussions, His Majesty the king and his excellency the president strongly affirmed their shared commitment to exerting utmost effort to maintain global peace, security, and stability. They also deliberated about a wide range of regional and international topics of common interest. Driven by the steadfast support of both leaders, relations between Manama and Athens continue to witness remarkable development across all fields, advancing steadily to fulfill the aspirations of both leaders, serving their common interests and delivering sustainable prosperity to their peoples. from Athens. Reporting for Bahin International, I am Aisha Ibrahim. >> His majesty Kinghammed bin Khalifa met with the prime minister of the Helenic Republic Keryakos Mitsakeis in the Greek capital Athens during his majesty's visit to Greece. On the occasion, his majesty affirmed the deep historical ties between Bahrain and Greece as well as the continuous development of these relations across various fields and highlighted the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation to serve the mutual interest of both countries. His Majesty expressed pleasure at visiting Greece and conveyed his appreciation for the warm reception and generous hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation. He affirmed that the bond between Bahrain and Greece transcends history and rests on the security of maritime corridors, freedom of trade, and the stability of a region upon which the world relies for energy, security, supply chains, and international trade. His Majesty noted that Bahrain and Greece are maritime nations. Greece possesses one of the world's largest merchant fleets while Bahrain is at the heart of the Arabian Gulf and hosts key maritime security partnerships in the region. His Majesty emphasized that both countries are affected by any threat to maritime navigation and share a collective responsibility to lead efforts aimed at preventing such threats. His majesty the king reaffirmed Bahin's steadfast position regarding navigation in the straight of hormus based on the necessity for any arrangements to be grounded in the UN convention on the law of the sea and endorsed by the international maritime organization which emphasizes guaranteeing the right of transit passage for all vessels without discrimination fees or permit requirements to avoid setting a precedent that could impact commercial fleets worldwide. His Majesty also expressed appreciation for Greece's principled stances based on international law as well as the close cooperation between the two countries delegations during their current membership in the UN Security Council. His Majesty emphasized that the visit aims to translate the long-standing friendship between the two nations into tangible results and effective cooperation in sectors such as maritime, transport, ports, investments and defense. It also seeks to strengthen Baharin's partnership with the European Union to enhance security and stability while supporting development and prosperity. His majesty expressed his anticipation of fruitful outcomes from the discussions and extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit Bahrain. For his part, the Greek prime minister welcomed his majesty and his visit to Greece, noting that the visit takes place amidst exceptional circumstances and challenges. He underscored the importance of his majesty's visit and expressed keen interest in further strengthening bilateral relations building upon the progress achieved in recent years and looked forward to advancing cooperation particularly regarding joint investments between the two nations. He highlighted the shared aspirations of Bahrain and Greece to enhance global security and stability. Regarding regional developments, the prime minister reaffirmed his country's full commitment to the security and territorial integrity of Bahrain in light of the events over the past months. The meeting reviewed enhancing the close cooperation between the two countries particularly in maritime transport and ports, trade, economy, investment, technology and defense in a manner that serves mutual interests, meets the aspirations of the two people for further progress and prosperity and fosters coordination in international forms. His Majesty the king and the Greek prime minister also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, the repercussions on regional security and stability and the security of international navigation and the efforts being made in this regard. They also exchanged views on regional and international affairs. Both sides emphasized the importance of finding peaceful solutions to these crisis and conflicts in the region and the world through dialogue and diplomatic efforts based on international law to establish peace, security, and stability for the benefit of all peoples. They affirmed their commitment to advancing fruitful cooperation and constructive joint action across various vital sectors of mutual interest. In honor of his majesty the king, the Greek prime minister hosted a lunchon attended by members of the delegation accompanying his majesty and senior Greek government officials. As part of the visit of his majesty kingda al- Khalifa to Greece, his majesty met with the Greek prime minister, his excellency Kiryakos Mitsotakis to discuss the bilateral relations between Bahin and Greece and means to further advance them. Their talks focused on exploring new avenues for cooperation, expanding partnership between Bahrain and Greece across multiple fields and reinforcing efforts to serve the mutual interests of both countries and peoples. From Athens, reporting for Bahrain International, I am Aisha Ibrahim. Driven by the shared vision of his majesty king hmed bin Isa al- Khalifa and the president of Greece his excellency Coststantinostulas the bilateral relations between the kingdom of Bahin and Greece continue to expand across all levels during their high level meeting his majesty the king and his excellency the president reviewed key aspects of these bilateral ties and explored new avenues to further enhance joint coordination across various fields. s. In addition to bilateral matters, both leaders addressed current regional and international developments with a specific focus on the situation in the Middle East, strongly emphasizing their shared commitment to continue joint efforts aimed at maintaining security, stability, and peace regionally and internationally. His majesty King Muhammad bin Isa al- Khalifa also held a high level meeting with the Greek prime minister His Excellency Kuryakos Mitsotakis during his majesty's visit to Greece. During the official talks his majesty the king and the Greek prime minister engaged in comprehensive discussions aimed at advancing bilateral relations and unlocking new opportunities for high level coordination. The two sides reviewed existing frameworks of partnership and explored mechanisms to broaden cooperation across key fields, ensuring that future joint initiatives directly serve the mutual interests of both countries. Over the past few years, the partnership between Manama and Athens has evolved beyond the official diplomacy to embrace robust commercial cooperation, vibrant cultural ties, and a deep enduring raproshma between Bahraini and Greek people. The historic partnership between Bahrain and Greece continues to successfully deliver on its strategic goals attributed to the commitment of their leaders and the clear foundation of mutual respect, friendship and understanding. Bahrain and Greece have enjoyed diplomatic relations spanning more than five decades during which cooperation between the two countries has witnessed continuous developments in a number of areas of mutual interest. Cooperation between Manama and Athens is expanding, underpinned by shared interests and a vision that supports security, stability, and the partnership between the two countries. More in this report. The Kingdom of Bahrain and Greece have enjoyed more than five decades of diplomatic relations which have developed over the years to encompass a wide range of political, economic, commercial, investment, and tourism ties. These relations are based on continuous coordination and consultation supported by agreements and memorandum of understanding in a number of fields alongside a mutual commitment to increasing cooperation and opening up new areas for partnership between the public and private sectors in both countries. Areas of cooperation include trade, investment, tourism, technology, and the environment, as well as energy, transport, digital networks, and the movement of people. Economically, trade reflects a growing aspect of these relations. While the industry, investment, tourism, and logistics sectors stand out as areas with potential for further expansion in the coming period. Politically, cooperation between Manama and Athens gained an additional dimension in 2026, coinciding with the two countries non-permanent memberships in the UN Security Council, which opens up a broader scope for coordination and consultation on issues before the council and for supporting international peace and security and respect for international law. Multiple avenues are shaping the Bahini Greek relations, moving beyond bilateral cooperation to become a broader partnership that combines economic interests, diplomatic coordination, and joint action on regional and international affairs. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abani delivered a statement during the security council session convened by the kingdom to address the security of maritime corridors and freedom of navigation held under the theme safe seas shared security protecting freedom of navigation in a changing security environment. He affirmed that Bahrain guided by the approach of his majesty the king in promoting international peace and security will continue to play its role regarding the security of maritime corridors and freedom of navigation both within and outside the UN security council. He stated that the kingdom remains open to any partner who views maritime security as a shared security interest. He emphasized that freedom of navigation is a non-negotiable interest. Rather, it is a principle guaranteed by the UN convention on the law of the sea and enshrined in the transit passage regime for straits used for international navigation. He noted that attacks in the straight of Hermos and the Babe Strait have been accompanied by repeated assaults on the territory of Saudi Arabia. These attacks targeted civilian and economic facilities in Abha Jazan and resulting in civilian casualties. He stressed that the security of the two holy mosques and those who visit them is not merely a Saudi or regional matter but a concern for all Muslims. I would like to thank all of the speakers and I take the floor on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We have just heard a number of statements with regard to risks and we have uh heard two clear examples. Uh they are not hypothetical. These are a reality that we are experiencing. The first example is that of the Strait of Hormuz. Indeed, the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as a number of countries in the region have been victims of unjustified Iranian attacks fully reprehensible that have been accompanied by threats and have affected navigation. This has led to a disruption of maritime traffic um in a channel where a significant share of the world's energy supplies passes. The second example is Bab al- Mandab where the nature of the threat has changed. It is no longer merely a matter of indiscriminate attacks on passing vessels as serious as those attacks are. Much rather the terrorist Houthy group has advanced towards the strait itself. There is a considerable difference between targeting a particular vessel and an armed non-state actor exercising their control over an international waterway. This situation has been accompanied by repeated attacks against the territory of the uh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia targeting civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Kamis, Mushite, Tif, Jizan, and Najran, which has led to several victims amongst civilians. Tuesday evening, the joint forces command of the coalition also announced having intercepted and destroyed a drone launched towards the uh city of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace for the uh holy city. This is not a Saudi problem. The uh security of the two holy mosques is a serious matter for all Muslims everywhere. We reiterate our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has an inherent right to defend itself in accordance with international law. Members of the Security Council have already previously condemned these kinds of attacks in their press statement issued on the 7th of August. There is also uh a more recent incident that warrants particular attention. That is the attack against the east west pipeline which was uh originally constructed as an alternative to the straight of hormuz. This means that the alternative solution itself has become itself a target that provides an important lesson for those who believe that the solution to the vulnerability of maritime corridors is simply to con circumvent them. Today we see that alternative infrastructure itself can also be subject to attack. The real solution lies therefore in confronting the problem rather than avoiding it. The situation in Yemen and uh in the Bab al-mandab Strait was also before the council at a special meeting last Tuesday. The discussions uh that took place at that meeting underscored the importance that we of the issue that we are asking ourselves about today. What does it mean when vital maritime corridors can become vulnerable to closure or control by any given party? And what tools do we have at our disposal today to be able to react to this kind of situation? I'm not trying here to engage in any kind of pmic. However, we do need to call facts by their proper names. This is an essential prerequisite for any serious response. It is impossible to confront a threat if we can't identify it, name it. At the same time, any disruption of maritime corridors affects uh people far removed from its causes. This could be a port in East Africa, for example, a factory in South Asia, or a family living on a small island awaiting the arrival of a supply vessel. A freedom of navigation is not a negotiable interest. It is a principle guaranteed by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. And this is a rule uh relating to the transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Moreover, the International Maritime Organization for its part has also established a framework for the prevention of unlawful unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation. So what we need today is not new rules. On the contrary, what we need to do is to close the gap between existing rules and practice. And in response to the questions raised uh at the outset of our meeting, I'd like to say the following. Firstly, moving from discussion to action depends on four principal elements. First, strengthening maritime domain awareness, information sharing and early warning, particularly through arrangements that enjoy broad participation. Secondly, it involves enhancing preparedness so that the response can begin before the damage has taken place and not after the fact. Thirdly, protecting seafarers because these are the first to bear the burden of this crisis, particularly by ensuring the immediate release of those detained and ensuring that we set up accountability mechanisms for those responsible for attacks against vessels. And fourthly, we must ensure the rapid restoration of navigation and trade. There is uh another dimension that has not received the full attention that it deserves and which briefers have begun to discuss today in detail. We need to ensure that navigation can continue. But we must also understand that developing economies pay a very high price when it comes to insurance premiums that have to be paid. This has a serious impact on the prices of food, medicine, and fuel. When grain cannot reach its destination, this has a serious effect on food security, particularly in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, and South Asia. Moreover, small island developing states and landlocked countries uh suffer from this situation in particular. Their situation is uh particularly serious. Uh it means an interruption of supplies and not just an increase in costs. The overwhelming majority of the world's seafarers are nationals of developing countries and it is they who bear the direct uh human burden which is very high. This is why we emphasize the following namely that the security of maritime corridors is a development issue just as much as it is a security issue. Any response must involve increasing uh involvement of those countries affected otherwise no solution will last. In conclusion and guided by the approach of his majesty, King Hammed bin Isa al- Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening international peace and our doors will always be open to all partners who believe as we do in the security of the seas. This is a shared security. >> The Minister for F for Foreign Affairs met in New York with Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Cooperation, the DFC, Ben Black, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, both sides discuss the course of the distinguished relations of friendship and strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States, the advanced level these relations have reached as well as the opportunities available for developing them in various economic sectors and focused on ways to broaden the horizons of joint cooperation in investment and development. They also exchanged views on regional developments and their implications for regional security and stability, the global economy and the international trade. As a result of the disruption to maritime navigation in the straits of Hormuz, the Babel Mandep straits and the Red Sea. The minister for foreign affairs met at the United Nations headquarters in New York with UN Secretary General Antonio Gutirez on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The UN Secretary General welcomed the minister for foreign affairs and asked him to convey his regards to his majesty bin Khalifa and his royal highness crown prince and prime minister Prince Almadal Muhammad al- Khalifa expressing his appreciation for the distinguished relations between Bahrain and the United Nations and its specialized agencies in all areas of mutual interest. for his part. The minister for foreign affairs conveyed the greetings of his majesty the king and his royal highness crown prince and prime minister to the UN secretary general along with their appreciation for the efforts he is making to strengthen the role of the United Nations and addressing current international issues and challenges. Dr. Zani expressed Bahin's pride in its ongoing cooperative relations with the United Nations and its various agencies across all fields and in the constructive achievements that have contributed to the activation of the joint cooperation efforts to support the kingdom's comprehensive development process and realize its aspirations for further progress and prosperity. The parties discussed the latest regional developments and the challenges facing countries in the region, the repercussions of the disruption to shipping in the streets of Hermos and the Bmen state as well as issues of the agenda of the UN General Assembly. They also exchanged views on the efforts being made by the UN Security Council to resolve regional conflicts and support efforts to strengthen international peace and security. The Minister of Cabinet Affairs Ahmed Mali met with the members of the 11th intake of the Prime Minister's fellowship program. The minister highlighted the importance of continued investment in national talent and developing their capabilities and skills to enhance government's performance and support Bahrain's comprehensive development led by his majesty the king and guided by his royal highness crown prince and prime minister. He also highlighted the support of the minister of the prime minister's court for national talent and efforts to provide opportunities that enhance their participation in government work. El Mali noted the program's role in developing national talent and providing participants with opportunities to gain experience and knowledge enhancing their readiness to assume responsibilities across government. El Mali also reviewed developments in government work and exchanged views with the program members on related topics. The Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahin Economic Development Board, EDB, Norl, received a delegation of representatives of European Union member states. The meeting took place as part of the delegation's joint official visit to Bahrain and was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Bahrain EDB. Al kle highlighted the growing relations and close partnership between the Kingdom of Bahin, the EU and its member states across various fields. She emphasized the commitment to further advancing cooperation particularly in the economic and sustainable development fields and exploring further opportunities that contribute to advancing sustainable development and supporting economic growth and prosperity. The meeting also discussed topics of common interest and opportunities to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise and broadened the partnership between Bahrain and EU member states. The ambassador commended Bahrain's progress and development across various domains and emphasized their country's commitment to further strengthening cooperation and partnership with Bahrain in support of shared aspirations and mutual interests. The minister of education Dr. Muhammad binar Jama and UAE minister of education Sabbin Yusf opened the college expo 2026 organized by Bahrain Bayan school for government and private school students. The expo showcases academic programs offered by national regional and international higher education institutions in Bahrain. The two ministers visited the schools on the sidelines of the meeting of the committee of the GCC ministers of education hosted by Bahrain. Vice chairperson of the board of trustees of Bahin Bayan Schoolif Khalifa briefed the ministers on the school's educational process and its latest programs and development projects. The ministers toured the expo and met members of the school's teaching and administrative staff and was briefed on the key academic programs offered by various national, regional and international higher education institutions in Bahrain. The minister of education Dr. Jama accompanied the UAE education minister Smir on a field visit to Muhammad Jabari Teachers College at the University of Bahin. At the start of the visit, the college dean Dr. Lucy Bailey and the assistant dean Dr. Murvat Bufflassa delivered a presentation detailing the various programs offered by the college. These included applied training programs for students preparing to enter the educational sector as well as programs for private sector personnel, school leadership training, post-graduate studies, regional partnerships and the international accredititation the college has achieved. The minister of youth affairs Ramani participated in a main dialogue session titled the youth dividend at brain bar held in Hungary. She affirmed that Bahrain under the comprehensive development process led by his majesty the king and guided by his royal han crown prince and prime minister prioritizes youth within its development agenda. She noted that investing in youth centers in broadening their horizons of their participation and empowering them to transform their ideas into highquality initiatives and opportunity opportunities. She explained that Bahrain's commitment to youth is rooted in a long-standing institutional approach exemplified by the establishment of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in 1975. She further emphasized that the role of the Ministry of Youth Affairs focuses primarily on formulating policies and strategic directions as well as developing frameworks to support the youth sector. The minister highlighted that the rapid global transformations currently underway are opening up vast opportunities for young people to learn, innovate, and create new prospects. She also noted that the hope network initiative launched by Bahrain in 2024 was established to create a platform that brings together nations and institutions to exchange ideas and expertise. In a new achievement Gulf fair, the national carrier of Bahrain secured top rankings in reports by aviation analytics firms Syri and OAG for its operational performance during August 2026. KFI ranked the first amongst Middle Eastern airlines for arrival punctuality and fourth globally in terms of on-time performance. According to Syri's monthly on-time performance report for August, Gulfair ranked first among Middle Eastern airlines for arrival punctuality, achieving a rate of over 92% and placed second in the combined Middle East and Africa category. This marked a notable improvement from July where its arrival punctuality was approximately 84% illustrating a 7.54 percentage point increase within a month. Furthermore, Gulf Air demonstrated operational excellence by achieving a flight completion rate of over 99% from a total of 4,422 flights during August. In OAG's analysis, Gulf ranked second in the Middle East and again fourth globally with an on-time performance rate surpassing 90%. The airlines cancellation rate was impressively low, recorded at less than 1% for 4,421 flights operated that month. These results underscore Gulfair's significant operational capabilities, highlighting the efficiency in planning, execution, and operational flexibility.