Campaign groups argue that Bahrain’s association with glamour sport is used to ‘launder’ a more wholesome image for the country.

Gulf governments have sustained their campaigns to silence peaceful critics during the first half of 2017, stated Human Rights Watch, updating an interactive website, created in November 2016, featuring targeted human rights activists.

The Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa accused Qatar of fabricating 600 documentaries and media materials on Bahrain, and accused Al-Jazeera of translating forged documentaries about Bahrain in many languages, to harm the kingdom.

Bahrain Watch organization launched the “Bahrain Budget Transparency Project”, which it said would make it easier for the public to access Bahraini government data. “We are starting with a repository of state budget data for the past 20 years,” it stated.

4-year-old Bahraini child, Sayed Mojtaba Sayed Jalal, died Thursday morning (July 27, 2017) after he drowned in a swimming pool in the Malikiya area. Authorities immediately launched investigations into the matter.

he Bahraini government-affiliated National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) praised the UK Foreign Office’s report on Human Rights and Democracy for 2016 on Bahrain. It said that the report “described Bahrain as the most advanced state in the region in human rights reforms.”

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa met his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on the sidelines of the Ministerial-level meeting of the Arab League Council. The two ministers reviewed the meeting to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain next Sunday for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt to discuss the developments of crisis with Qatar.

Bahraini government’s decision to shutter al-Wasat indefinitely yet again underscores regime’s on-going assault on freedom of expression and independent media.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has lauded what he named “tremendous efforts and good endeavors” of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud “that resulted in cancelling the restrictions imposed by the Israeli Occupation Forces on entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque”.

US President Donald Trump unveiled his candidates to assume new posts. He nominated Justin Hicks Siberell as an ambassador of the United States of America the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bahrain’s Security Authorities released on Wednesday (July 26, 2017) detained sisters Fatima and Iman Abdullah on bail worth BD 1000. Their trial, however, continues. This comes weeks after arrested them, and keeping them in custody of the women prison.

Bahrain’s Public Prosecution announced Wednesday (July 26, 2017) referring 60 defendants to trial next August 22, for establishing a terrorist group, according to Terror Crime Prosecutor Ahmad Al-Hamadi.

Jane website for intelligence and defence stated that Lockheed Martin signed a USD22.45 million contract to supply the Bahrain Defence Forces (BDF) with an undisclosed number of Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) for its F-16 fighters.

Twitter account of president of Bahrain Center for Human Rights revealed that activist Ibtisam Al-Saegh had her right arm broken due to torture.

MEP Tom Brake issued a proposal to the House of Commons to condemn the sentence passed on Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. He also called on the British Government to condemn Rajab’s sentence; and further called on the Government of Bahrain to immediately release him, commute his sentence, drop outstanding charges and to release all human rights defenders.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have announced the designation of nine entities and nine individuals on the lists of terrorist groups and said they are supported by Qatar.

The General Secretary of GFBTU Hasan Al Halwachi, commenting on the government’s intention to increase the retirement age in the law, said that there was ambiguity and uncertainty in these statements rather than transparency required for such an important matter.

The son of Bahraini Minister of Interior, Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, presented his credentials to US President Donald Trump as Ambassador of his country in Washington, on Saturday July 22, 2017.

President of the University of Bahrain, Riyadh Hamza, announced that the university will introduce in the 2017 – 2018 academic year 7 new Master programs.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) condemned the recent ruling issued against Nazeeha Saeed, and called “on the Government of Bahrain to revisit her case and to immediately cease all intimidation and judicial harassment of journalists and media.”