The Guardian reported that Bahrain has been found guilty by a UN body of arbitrarily detaining three relatives of a British-based human rights activist as a reprisal for his protest in London against the visit of the country’s king in 2017.

Bahrain on Friday rejected a UN call to release prominent activist Nabeel Rajab, saying he is serving a five-year sentence for “false” tweets “which do not fall within freedom of expression”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, said that “Bahrain is steadily moving forward on the right path to maintain its stability and the continuity of development and progress,” reported the Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on Friday, the first leg of a tour of Gulf monarchies which Washington says are "critical" to confronting Iran and jihadists.

Bahraini authorities released on Thursday (January 10th, 2019) former member of parliament Sheikh Hamza Al-Dairy, after serving a one-year prison sentence.

A local newspaper said the oncology department at Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex asked patients to leave the hospital and return home due to lack of medicines needed for their treatment.

80 employees were appointed in the National Agency for Gulf Taxes to follow up issues related to applying the tax in various sectors, government sources said.

The Interior Ministry issued a statement in response to the call made by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on January 4 regarding the “immediate and unconditional release” of Nabeel Rajab, who is serving a five-year sentence on charges of “releasing false news during wartime and publicly insulting brotherly states and the Ministry of Interior”.

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior issued a statement responding to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which criticized the arrest of Bahraini authorities, three relatives of activist Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei, who lives abroad, describing their detention as illegal retaliation for their family connection.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has reiterated Australia's deep concerns over Thailand's detention of a Melbourne-based refugee footballer in a meeting with senior Thai government figures, reported SBS News.

FIFA stated that Mr. Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is currently being detained in prison in Thailand awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings to Bahrain, should be allowed to return safely to Australia where he can resume his career as a professional footballer.

The results of the meeting of Football Federation Australia (FFA) President Chris Nikou with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa were completely negative, said Yahya Al-Hadid, president of the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.

A United Nations human rights watchdog has called on Bahrain to release three relatives of a prominent exiled activist, describing their detention as an unlawful act of reprisal over their family connection.

The Tax Authority is completing the necessary technical preparations for launching a refund system of the amounts collected as value added tax from tourists and visitors upon leaving Bahrain, an official statement said.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she is to meet with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to advocate for the safe return to Australia of Mr Hakeem Al-Araibi.

Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai, said: “Great news that Thailand has allowed the UN to assess Rahaf rather than sending her back to the country from which she was seeking asylum. Thailand needs to allow Hakeem to return to Australia and stop Bahrain’s legal abuse.”

Bahraini newspapers expressed concern on Tuesday (January 8, 2019) over the news of discharging PM Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa from the hospital after treatment for the flu.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa ordered that an Assistant Undersecretary from a ministry that provides public services be referred to the Public Prosecution to verify his academic record.

Former Al-Wefaq MP Ali Al-Aswad commented on the tax imposed on electricity and water saying that there is no horizon for solving problems, faced in the country, with old government.

Courts in the Gulf and Egypt have upheld jail terms against leading activists in a crackdown on protesting through social media, marking a somber end to 2018 for rights campaigners.