Jailed Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who fled political upheaval in the Middle East nation and has refugee status in Australia, will spend at least two more months in prison in Thailand after a court set an extradition hearing for April.

Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi demanded on Monday (January 4, 2019) not to send him back to Bahrain, expressing his fears that the Bahraini authorities would kill him.

Former Chelsea star and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team Didier Drogba joined the international campaign demanding the release of Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is currently detained by the Thai authorities with a possibility to hand him to the Bahraini authorities. The Ivorian posted a picture of Al-Araibi on his Twitter account along with the "SaveHakeem" hashtag.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued Royal Order on Sunday (February 3, 2019) promoting 776 BDF officers in the various ranks.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement explaining the government's point of view with respect to Hakeem Al-Araibi's case. It said it wishes to receive Al-Araibi from Thailand and that he holds the right to appeal this court decision if present at Bahrain's Court of Appeal.

Civil society organizations in Bahrain criticized what they described as "restrictions" imposed by the Government, noting that voluntary action in Bahrain has recently degraded due to the measures imposed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Health Minister Faeqa Al-Saleh said that Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex is fully operating under increasing pressure, refusing at the same time to offend the Bahraini doctor.

Transportation Minister Kamal Ahmed said that Bahrain will open its new airport in October. UAE had announced two years ago the allocation of about one billion dollar from its financial grant to Bahrain to build a new airport.

The Public Prosecution ordered on Saturday (February 3, 2019) the arrest of prominent cleric Sayed Majeed Al-Mashaal for 15 days pending investigation over charge of inciting hatred against the regime.

The Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society confirmed its support for and adoption of the whole statement issued by Sheikh Isa Qassim, entitled "This is Bahrain".

A committee overseeing a ceasefire in Hodeidah will hold its next meeting on a ship off the port city as Yemen's warring parties cannot agree on a venue, Yemeni and U.N. sources said on Saturday.

Iran announced the "successful test" of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350 kilometres on Saturday, coinciding with celebrations for the country's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the Shia in Bahrain, arrived in the holy city of Mashhad in Iran on Saturday (February 2, 2019) to visit the shrine of Imam Ali Reza, the eighth imam of Shiite Muslims.

The UN Human Rights Office said on Friday there were “serious doubts” whether three Bahraini opposition leaders were given a fair trial after Bahrain’s highest court upheld this week their life sentences on charges of spying for Qatar.

The number of foreign workers in the public sector has reached 15% of the total number of employees in ministries and government bodies, according to official statistics published by the local daily Al-Ayyam on Saturday (February 2, 2019).

Saudi Arabia is no longer seeking the death penalty against woman activist Israa al-Ghomgham, who has been in jail since December 2015, rights groups said Friday.

A Thai public prosecutor on Friday submitted to a criminal court Bahrain’s extradition request for jailed footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who fled his country amid political upheaval and has refugee status in Australia.

A number of rallies were held in Australia’s Sydney and Melbourne on Friday (February 1, 2019), in solidarity with Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi and all Bahraini prisoners of conscience.

The case of Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is held in Thailand, caused the Government of Bahrain a severe headache.

Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim issued a statement on Friday (February 1, 2019), in which he said that “Freedom is the Bahraini people’s constant demand, which they never forget, neglect, disregard or give up on.”