Latest news with #DefenceandNationalSecurityCommittee
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Unity: First Line of Defence
TDT | Manama MP Says Vigilance and Cohesion Vital Amid Regional Instability • National unity stressed • MP backs official leadership • Warns against disinformation Bahrain must stand firm in the face of regional turmoil, with national unity serving as the first line of defence, a Member of Parliament has urged. Dr Maryam Al Dhaen, who sits on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee, said Bahrainis must uphold solidarity and resist any efforts to sow division, calling it a 'historic responsibility' for every citizen. 'We are aware of the magnitude of the surrounding dangers,' she said. 'We must rise to this historic responsibility by standing united against every attempt to destabilise or undermine our national principles. There is no room for complacency or division, as Bahrain is strong because of its people and their awareness.' Support for Leadership Dr Al Dhaen affirmed full backing for the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, saying Bahrain's strength rests in its cohesion around wise governance. She also praised Bahrain's foreign policy stance, describing it as balanced and rooted in peace and stability. Bahrain's 'firm and declared' position on regional developments, she said, is evidence of that commitment. Responsibility Online Calling on citizens to turn away from misinformation, Dr Al Dhaen cautioned against the dangers of rumour-mongering during tense times. 'Social media should be platforms for building and solidarity, not tools for destruction or spreading rumours,' she said, urging the public to rely only on official channels for updates. Final Appeal
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
MP's Unity Call Rallies Nation Behind Leadership Amid Regional Tensions
TDT | Manama Bahrain must stand firm in the face of regional turmoil, with national unity serving as the first line of defence, a Member of Parliament has urged. Dr Maryam Al Dhaen, who sits on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee, said Bahrainis must uphold solidarity and resist any efforts to sow division, calling it a 'historic responsibility' for every citizen. 'We are aware of the magnitude of the surrounding dangers,' she said. 'We must rise to this historic responsibility by standing united against every attempt to destabilise or undermine our national principles. There is no room for complacency or division, as Bahrain is strong because of its people and their awareness.' Support for leadership Dr Al Dhaen affirmed full backing for the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, saying Bahrain's strength rests in its cohesion around wise governance. She also praised Bahrain's foreign policy stance, describing it as balanced and rooted in peace and stability. Bahrain's 'firm and declared' position on regional developments, she said, is evidence of that commitment. Calling on citizens to turn away from misinformation, Dr Al Dhaen cautioned against the dangers of rumour-mongering during tense times. 'Social media should be platforms for building and solidarity, not tools for destruction or spreading rumours,' she said, urging the public to rely only on official channels for updates.
Daily Tribune
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Shura committee reviews 17 draft laws
Seventeen draft laws, including changes to Bahrain's Penal Code and a set of international agreements, have been reviewed by the Shura Council's Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee. Chaired by Dr Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, the committee held 14 meetings during the third session of the sixth legislative term, covering legislation on criminal law, residency rules, traffic offences, and a range of foreign treaties. Three proposed amendments to the Penal Code were examined, including one to add a final paragraph to Article 107. The proposal came from five members: Nancy Dina Ely Khudori, Khalid Hussain Al Maskati, Redha Abdulla Faraj, Dr Abdulaziz Hassan Abul, and Dr Bassam Ismail Al Binmohammed. Other drafts sought to amend the 2017 law on alternative punishments, revise Article 56 of the 2014 Traffic Law, and add a new clause—Article 7 repeated—to the 1965 immigration and residency law. Each of these stemmed from proposals passed by the elected chamber. International agreements International agreements featured heavily on the agenda. The committee reviewed treaties with the UAE, Oman, South Korea, Kuwait, Hungary, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. These covered tax arrangements, investment rules, and maritime cooperation. Bahrain will also join the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. One item concerned the amended World Trade Organization protocol on fisheries support, which has now been added to the Marrakesh Agreement's annex. The committee gave it the green light. Still under review is a draft law to ratify the Makkah Agreement on anti-corruption cooperation among member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It was referred to the committee after His Majesty the King ordered the close of the session.
Daily Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Investment and tax treaties with South Korea and Oman
Two bilateral treaties, one to protect South Korean investment in Bahrain and the other to eliminate double taxation with Oman, were passed by the Shura Council yesterday. Both draft laws went through in a single sitting and are now with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad A Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who will send them to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Neither agreement will take effect until ratified and published in the Official Gazette. The South Korea agreement, submitted with Royal Decree No. (9) of 2025, sets terms for legal protection of investors and lays the groundwork for deeper trade and financial links between the two countries. ' The agreement is intended to encourage and safeguard investment, and to support cooperation in financial and economic matters between the two countries,' said committee rapporteur Nancy Dinah Elly Khedouri. 'It creates conditions for more cross-border investment and independent business ventures, with the aim of raising prosperity in both countries.' Markets Dr Ibtisam Al Dallal said the agreement would reinforce Bahrain's position as a base for Korean companies seeking access to Gulf markets. 'Bahrain is a strategic entry point for Korean firms due to its location and its role as a financial hub,' she said. 'This agreement offers clear legal terms for investors, encourages capital flows, and helps settle disputes when they arise.' The second agreement, linked to Royal Decree No. (12) of 2025, covers tax matters between Bahrain and Oman. It removes the risk of income being taxed twice and sets out steps to prevent tax avoidance. Dr Bassam Ismail Al Binmohamed, speaking on behalf of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee, said the law would make it easier for Bahraini and Omani firms to do business across borders. 'This will support wider economic ties and open new investment opportunities by clearing up tax issues that can slow cross-border activity,' Dr Al Binmohamed said.
Daily Tribune
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Parliament passes revised draft law criminalising invasion of privacy
A revised bill from the Shura Council has been passed by Parliament, making it a criminal offence to secretly record private conversations, film accident victims, or share intimate details of someone's life. In serious cases, offenders could face up to five years in prison and a fine of BD5,000. The bill amends Bahrain's Penal Code, focusing on Articles 354, 370 and 372. It draws together two earlier drafts, one put forward by the Shura Council and the other by the government, and presents them as a single law. Final version The Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee backed the final version. MP Mohammed Al Ma'arafi, a member of the committee, said the proposal was part of a wider push to improve legal protection for privacy. He added that the committee had held 27 meetings during the current session, much of that time spent reviewing and debating the Penal Code changes. Behaviour The new law covers a range of behaviour. Eavesdropping, filming people without their knowledge in private or compromising settings, and sharing personal material, even if accurate, can lead to prosecution if it causes harm.
