Muharraq Port Fines Probe: Bahrain’s Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar is demanding an inquiry after boat owners were allegedly told to pay government fines into a personal BenefitPay account, raising questions over the legal basis, who received the money, and how it was recorded and transferred to state accounts. Anti–Financial Crime Compliance: Family House for Microfinance signed a five-year framework with AMAN Compliance Solutions to automate customer data screening against sanctions lists, aiming to strengthen governance and meet Central Bank of Bahrain requirements. Unemployment Fund Boost: Bahrain’s Unemployment Fund ended 2025 with BD601.47m in net assets, up from BD530.87m, as contributions and investment holdings grew; the audited accounts are now with Parliament’s committee. Defense Cooperation: Bahrain and the US concluded the 21st Bahrain-US Joint Military Committee meeting, signing minutes after discussions on deeper military coordination. Regional Shipping Pressure: Bahrain rejected any permit or fee regime for Strait of Hormuz passage at the UN, warning unilateral restrictions could set a precedent and citing the wider economic cost of attacks and navigation disruptions. GCC-India Trade Talks: India and the GCC reviewed progress on their Joint Action Plan and discussed challenges to commercial shipping, while welcoming the launch of India-GCC FTA negotiations. Alba at GCC Expo: Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) joined the inaugural “Made in GCC 2026” forum as a supporting partner, backing regional industrial integration. AI Governance Push: Bahrain called for wider technology access and responsible AI governance at the 3G ministerial meeting in New York.