Search results

US investigators are seeking to uncover a ‘golden chain’ of Al-Qaeda financiers as the discovery of its now deceased leader Osama Bin Laden and his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on 2 May has prompted questions about his sources of funding.

The state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) has fired almost 300 oil workers for taking part in a week-long strike in March in support of pro-democracy demonstrators.

Prime minister Marouf Bakhit was in Abu Dhabi on 17 April to seek financial support at a meeting with UAE deputy prime minister and presidential affairs minister Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Sheikh Mansour said the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) was looking at ways of giving Jordan a more central focus for economic and developmental support. The GCC is setting up a $20bn fund to assist development in the region, particularly in the poorer states of Bahrain and Oman (GSN 896/13).

Although Bahrain’s lower national assembly chamber the Majlis Al-Nuwab is elected, power to implement constitutional reform lies with the royally appointed government and upper chamber, the Majlis Al-Shura. Following demonstrations beginning on 14 February, the political environment has deteriorated significantly, with a renewed and uneasy status quo of state force and opposition suppression now apparent.

Ahmed Hamad Al-Gosaibi and Brothers (AHAB) is suing the former chief executive of Bahrain-based The International Banking Corporation (TIBC) for allegedly defrauding the company of $9.2bn

Speaking to GSN, Bahraini human rights officials report on abuses in jails and hospitals, and the suppression of opposition by force, all of which has been overshadowed by the rhetoric of Iranian meddling in the region

Large crowds had chanted their support for the opposition in Bahrain, waving flags and protesting at Saudi Arabia’s deployment of Saudi Arabian National Guard (Sang) units to the island state.

Bahrain’s sovereign credit rating remains on review with negative outlook as confidence wanes

Bapco strike hits fuel supply, LNG imports could plug Japan supply gap, Government wants Shell gas JV review

In a show of force, and an attempt to clear mass protests around Pearl Roundabout, the Bahraini security services with the help of its GCC 'brothers' have been deployed across the country. The long-term implications for Bahrain, politically, socially and economically, remain unknown; however, its ramifications could spread beyond the island's borders.

The oil-rich province has seen thousands of people demonstrating against the deployment of Saudi Arabia in Bahrain, and pushing for more reform in the Kingdom

Bahrain’s destruction of the iconic Pearl monument in Manama on 18 March, and the ripping up of grass at the roundabout, symbolises one of the state’s most aggressive acts against its people. The circular monument became the base for the opposition movement, acting as a public space where people could meet and share ideas, much like Tunisians did in Tunis’ 7 November Square (newly named Mohammed Bouazizi Square), and Egyptians in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

Manama’s crackdown on opposition members combined with the intervention of military forces from Saudi Arabia and police forces from the UAE has left Bahrain’s opposition considerably reduced space to demonstrate. However, opposition members remain as resolute as before to bring about change

Amid serious sectarian unrest and growing suspicion of Tehran, the ruling monarchy is enlisting foreign assistance in a carefully orchestrated clampdown on the opposition.

A number of British citizens have been prevented from leaving the country after banks, including HSBC, obtained travel bans against them because they owe money