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  • Inside an explosive whisper campaign that tried to sink a Biden ambassador pick to Bahrain

    This is one such story you’ve not read before. It features a decorated diplomat with an unblemished record, about to claim a career-defining prize: an ambassadorial posting to a key Middle East ally. It involves serious accusations and counter-accusations of racism, none of which were made publicly. Hidden not far beneath the surface are personal histories and policy disagreements — in this case between appointees of former President Donald Trump and the “Deep State” bureaucracy that haven’t been put to bed with the advent of a new administration.

  • VAT Hike in Bahrain Points to Fiscal Challenges, Unattractive Choices Government Faced

    In October, Bahrain announced plans to raise its value-added tax from 5% to 10% in January 2022. The tax rise falls under the umbrella of Bahrain’s fiscal balance program, which was recently revised after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted its implementation. Bahrain has the smallest demonstrated oil and gas reserves of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the fact that oil prices have for the most part been below $80 per barrel since 2014 has led to credit downgrades and a demand from investors for fiscal reforms.

  • Lebanon to deport non-Lebanese members of Bahrain opposition

    Lebanon's interior minister on Wednesday ordered the deportation of non-Lebanese members of Bahrain's dissolved opposition al-Wefaq group after some of them criticised the Gulf Arab kingdom at a news conference in Beirut Lebanon became enmeshed in a major diplomatic dispute with the Gulf last month after former information minister George Kordahi criticised Saudi Arabia over the Yemen war.

  • Saudi Arabia and Bahrain sign four agreements: Foreign minister

    The AlUla declaration was issued following the previous GCC summit in the historic Saudi city of AlUla in January, and marked a new era in Gulf relations. Speaking during a press conference with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Prince Faisal said that the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council approved 65 initiatives during its meeting.

  • Bahrain parliament approves value-added tax increase to 10%

    Bahrain's parliament has approved the doubling of value-added tax to 10%, a member of parliament said, a reform that is part of plans to fix the Gulf state's heavily indebted finances. Rated below investment grade, Bahrain was bailed out to avoid a credit crunch in 2018 with a $10 billion package from wealthy neighbours Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Abraham Accords Are Changing the Middle East ‘Dramatically,’ Bahrain Ambassador Says

    The ambassador said the last year has been "very important" for Bahrain, with more than 30 memorandums of understanding with Israel already established and four others pending. Bahrain also has an ambassador in Tel Aviv, and Israel has an embassy in Bahrain, he said.

  • Bahrain says it foiled planned attack, confiscated Iranian weapons and explosives

    Bahrain, host to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and other international naval operations, has often accused Shi'ite Muslim Iran of seeking to subvert the Sunni-ruled kingdom, which has a Shi'ite majority. Iran has denied such charges.

  • UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain fast becoming a powerhouse in the advance of racing

    Led by Dubai, which stages some of the best racing on the planet - including the fabled World Cup Carnival - other countries are making a big impact in helping to position the region at the forefront of the sport globally, with some of the finest courses and richest races.

  • U.S. Iran envoy visits UAE, Israel, Saudi and Bahrain Nov. 11-20

    U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Nov. 11-20 to coordinate ahead of fresh talks about reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday. "He will coordinate our approaches on a broad range of concerns with Iran, including its destabilizing activities in the region and the upcoming seventh round of talks on a mutual return to full compliance with the (deal)," the statement said, referring to the Nov. 29 resumption of indirect U.S.-Iran talks.

  • ‘Eternals’ Banned In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain & Oman

    The anticipated robust overseas box office of Disney/Marvel’s Eternals, which posted a first day of $7.6M, will definitely not have Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman in its future release plans.