Bahrain is once again flouting its international obligations by upholding a three-year prison sentence issued against prisoner of conscience Najah Al-Sheikh.

Bahraini writer Abdullah Al-Junaid has sparked controversy after saying that his country will not ask for anyone’s permission to establish direct and formal relations with Israel.

Bahrain is secretly holding talks with Israel in preparation for open relations between the two countries, Yedioth Ahronoth revealed yesterday.

Bahraini security authorities released a number of detainees who were arrested during the month of Muharram, or after their participation in the commemoration of Ashura.

The Bahraini Ministry of the Interior said that the civil defense began more than 37 rescue and assistance requests following the wave of heavy rains that hit the country.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa paid a visit to his uncle, Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, days after his son, the crown prince, was given executive powers for the first time.

Israel's national anthem was played at a judo tournament in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after one of its athletes won gold in what was thought to be a first in the Gulf emirate.

The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has triggered a diplomatic and public relations crisis for Saudi Arabia, but little may change for the victims of the Yemen war.

At the border town of Mehran between Iran and Iraq, a sea of pilgrims surges forwards, en route to one of the biggest religious pilgrimages on the planet.

The Nationalist Democratic Assembly announced the cancellation of a seminar after pressure from the Bahraini Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, which demanded preventing opposition leader Ibrahim Sharif’s participation in the event.

The Third Bahraini Minor Criminal Court acquitted a Bahraini child of the charge of Molotov cocktail possession due to lack of evidence, while sentencing him to one month in jail for his participation in an assembly.

Iran’s parliament approved a government economic reshuffle on Saturday, days before new US sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports take effect.

A study conducted by experts for the Fisheries Management Department of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning said that local fish stocks in Bahrain have fallen sharply by about 90 percent.

Germany, which has pledged to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, said it expects the European Union to adopt a common position on potential limits to weapons sales.

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa received officials from Lockheed Martin Corporation, a US military industry company.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday that he had met Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and called for a transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said he supports banning some candidates from running for the upcoming legislative elections, reported a local newspaper.

Deputy Prime Minister Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said that approximately 7,000 employees had applied for the voluntary retirement program.

Oxfam announced on Friday that one civilian has been killed every three hours in fighting in Yemen since the beginning of August, with many more people succumbing to disease and hunger, calling on the UK, US and other governments to suspend arms sales to the Saudis because of their disregard for civilian lives in the war in Yemen.

Turkish prosecutors have prepared an extradition request for 18 suspects from Saudi Arabia in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, authorities said.