Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi today held a press attended by Finance Undersecretary Arif Khamis, to cast light on the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) unified VAT agreement and the GCC’s unified agreement on selective taxation.

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) board member, Othman Sharif resigned from the chamber’s board after criticizing its performance in the face of what he called “a series of harsh decisions, and package of successive fees and taxes targeting the commercial market.”

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa met (January 31, 2017), in Abu Dhabi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed with him solid relations binding the two friendly countries and cooperation in all fields.

American Defense News website reported that chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Monday he expects the Trump White House to approve F-16 fighter jet sales to Bahrain that were blocked by the Obama administration over human rights concerns.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights member Safaa Al-Khawaja said that the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) started to provide services to the authorities that are not linked to its job as human rights institution.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Wednesday (February 1, 2017) that its arrested 3 Bahrainis as search continues to arrest others, accused of joining a terror group which targeted security men and their vehicles.

Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman, Head of Religious Freedom Unit in the Bahrain Human Rights Observatory (BHRO), described the latest statements of National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) as “blatant human rights suicidal move”.

Freedom House classified Bahrain as the sixth worst country in the world in terms of freedom decline over 10 years. Bahrain came after Central African Republic, Turkey, The Gambia, Mali and Burundi. According to this scale, Manama was classified in a rank worst than Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan.

Mass protests were staged in over 50 areas across Bahrain, marking an extraordinary revolutionary day reflecting the people’s perseverance and adherence to their rights and legitimate demands.

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) said on Monday (January 30, 2017) that the injury of the 18-year-old Mostafa Hamdan was caused during a shootout between two groups of masked men and hurling stones early in the morning on January 26.

The Kuwaiti government on Monday approved the 2017/2018 budget with a projected huge deficit for the third year running due to the sharp fall in oil prices.

The IsraelValley website reported from the Tribune Juive newspaper “Speaking about economic and security relations with Bahrain, an Israeli Minister said that a group of Bahraini anti-riot forces is being trained in Tel Aviv.”

Bahrain's Attorney General Ali bin Fadhel Al-Buainain said on Tuesday (January 31, 2017) that the Public Prosecution is investigation the head injury of Mostafa Hamdan (18 years) by a bullet.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued on Monday (January 30, 2017) a decree establishing Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, headed by one of his family members.

Bahrain has restored arrest and investigatory powers to an intelligence agency that conducted "terrorizing" house raids and systematically tortured detainees in 2011, Human Rights Watch said today.

Clashes erupted between police and protesters in Bahrain before a hearing in the trial of a leading Shiite cleric accused of illegal collection of funds and money laundering, witnesses said Monday. The court later announced the final hearing to be February 12, before deferring it to February 27.

Saudi Arabia confirmed on Monday (January 30, 2017) that Yemeni forces attacked a Saudi frigate in west of the port of Hodeid.

A police officer in Bahrain has been shot dead in an attack claimed by a Shiite militant group.

Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Undersecretary Dr. Fareed Al-Miftah stressed that the statements issued by so-called Bahraini Ulama (clerics), are inconsistent with the national course and of no value, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.

Dozens of people took part (Monday January 30, 2017) in the funeral held in Al-Hunainiya Cemetery in Riffa for First Lieutenant Hisham Al-Hamadi, who died in a shooting in Bilad Al Qadeem.