After nearly two years of nonstop unrest, opposing factions in Bahrain are set to open talks to ease an Arab Spring conflict that has run longer than Syria's rebellion and is playing out on the doorstep of the US military's main naval base in the Persian Gulf. But mistrust runs so deep on all sides that even the prelude to Sunday's planned start of negotiations has been a study in the kingdom's divisions and suspicions, and suggests a difficult route toward any possible Read more [...]

Bahrain workers to get paid marriage leave Manama, 0 hours, 36 minutes ago Bahrain’s new Labour Law entitles employees to a one-time special leave of three days with salary for their wedding provided they produce a copy of the marriage contract. The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) said in a Press release that Muslim employees are entitled to 21 days' leave to perform Haj once during their service. Female employees can avail of 60 days maternity leave, starting Read more [...]

Pro- and anti-government groups will attend a new round of dialogue in Bahrain aimed at solving the country's two-year-old political crisis. The talks on Sunday, the first in Bahrain in more than 18 months, will involve dozens of representatives from the country's main political groups. Al Wefaq, the largest opposition group, agreed to take part, as did several other opposition parties; the government will be represented by loyalist groups like the National Unity Gathering and Al Read more [...]

The country’s Sunni rulers — supported by the West and other Gulf allies — seek to bring the main Shiite factions back into the political fold in hopes of starting a gradual reconciliation on the strategic island, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.Envoys from the Shiite groups, however, remain wary of opening a process that they believe has no chance of reaching their goals: forcing the ruling monarchy to give up its monopoly on power and allow an elected government that would certainly include Read more [...]

Protesters from across the tiny Persian Gulf island nation gathered near the capital’s Freedom Square on Saturday to call for freedom and democracy.Bahraini activists have been staging demonstrations across the country over the past few days and plan to go on a general strike on February 14.The Bahraini revolution began on February 14, 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive demonstrations. On March 14, Read more [...]

The Bahrain Institute for Political Development and the Supreme Council for Women have announced the start of a women's political empowerment programme, Bahrain's Al-Watan reported Saturday (February 9th). The new programme aims to pave the way for legislative elections next year, enabling Bahraini women to engage in politics as candidates and electors by developing their leadership skills and preparing them for participation in public affairs. It also focuses on spreading and developing political Read more [...]

Bahrain's justice minister is set to open political talks to "promote vital national interests" today amid the prospect of further unrest this week in the run-up to the second anniversary of Arab Spring-inspired protests in the kingdom. The resumption of the National Consensus Dialogue being hosted by Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa comes ahead of the anniversary of the protests at the Pearl roundabout in Manama on February 14, 2011. The talks are expected to include eight representatives each from Read more [...]

By Mohammad El-Enzi (with photos) MANAMA, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed arrived Saturday in Bahrain, accompanied by a large parliamentary delegation, at the start of a three-day official visit to the Gulf nation. "The visit is meant to bolster parliamentary and people-to-people relations between Kuwait and Bahrain," Al-Rashed said in statements to KUNA and Kuwait TV. The NA Speaker added the Kuwaiti delegation will discuss with Bahraini Read more [...]

Team Abu Dhabi's all-Emirati crew, skippered by Adil Khalid of Volvo Ocean Race fame, are in confident mood ahead Sunday's opening leg of Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2013. The 15-day race covering 760 nautical miles begins with a leg from Bahrain to Qatar, expected to take around 12 hours. "Having prepared for over a month on a brand new boat and for the first time ever with an all-Emirati crew, we are just excited and looking forward to the adventure ahead," Khalid said on Saturday, speaking on the Read more [...]