<!----> Authorities in Bahrain have announced a crackdown on traders ramping up the price of tobacco following the introduction of a new import tax on January 1. Any retail outlet that tampers with the price of tobacco risks a maximum five-year jail sentence and/or minimum BD5000 ($ 13,272) fine for breaking the Consumer Protection Law, state news agency BNA said on Tuesday. The announcement came following reports that the imposition of the new import tax on tobacco had prompted retailers Read more [...]

<!----> Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have banned Iranian-flagged vessels from entering their waters and imposed other shipping restrictions, according to ship insurers citing local reports, potentially escalating tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. Iran has been struggling to ramp up oil exports and still faces insurance and financing hurdles despite the lifting of international curbs on its banking, insurance and shipping sectors last month as part of a nuclear deal with world powers. A ban on Read more [...]

By Hamodia StaffDeputy Minister for Regional Cooperation, Ayoub Kara of Likud. (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL)YERUSHALAYIM - The Rambam Medical Center in Haifa saved the life of a Bahraini princess, according to Deputy Minister for Regional Cooperation Ayoub Kara. The treatment, which apparently took place in 2010, was approved by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Hospital officials confirmed that a Bahraini princess had been admitted at the time, but neither the hospital spokesmen nor Kara Read more [...]

The writer is an investigative journalist and academic with extensive reporting experience in the MENA region. He tweets @naveed360Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi holds the portfolio of Oman’s minster for financial affairs while Dr Fatima Al Balushi is Bahrain’s human rights and social development minister. They are obviously no ordinary folks in their countries. However, they are equally special for Pakistanis too. They are two of the many distinguished Baloch living in the Gulf Arab nations, Read more [...]

Feb 10, Colombo: A series of recently concluded high level meetings between visiting Sri Lanka's Minister of Industry and Commerce and the ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Bahrain have ushered a fresh renewal of ties between both countries. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen who visited the Kingdom of Bahrain in early February succeeded in taking the message of Sri Lanka's transformation to the Bahraini business sector as well as to the ruling monarch Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Read more [...]

Manama, Feb. 10 (BNA): Shura Council's Women and Children Affairs Committee Chairperson Hala Ramzi Fayez has affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain represents a role model of religious tolerance thanks to the vision adopted by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa that calls for openness among citizens who have rights and responsibilities, which is ensured by the Bahraini constitution and the National Action Read more [...]

Manama, Feb. 10 (BNA): Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Dhiab bin Saqr Al-Nuaimi chaired here today a meeting Joint Defence and Security Committee. Ways to enahnce cooperation and coordination between the military and security bodies were discussed in order to promote mutual military abilities, consolidate foundations of security and stability and safeguard the Kingdom's Read more [...]

Manama, Feb 10 (BNA): Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Chairman Khalid Al-Moayyad has received Philippine President's Special Envoy to the GCC countries, Dr. Amable Aguiluz. BCCI Chairman hailed the solid Bahraini-Philippine relations in light of keenness of both leaderships to further strengthening them. He called for encouraging and stimulating the establishment of joint business Read more [...]

Home Islamic Finance News Article Feb 09 2016 more articles from KUALA LUMPUR, 9th February, (WAM) -- The prospects for Islamic finance remains strong given the growing interest towards Shariah-compliant investment asset class, despite the inevitable correlation between oil price and Islamic wealth. Bahrain Central Bank Governor Rasheed Al Maraj said while were some headwinds recently, the long-term growth picture within its strongest markets Read more [...]

New Information The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.  New information: The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the acquittal of Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, former President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Read more [...]