‘Torture’ injuries self-inflicted
by mahmood on 14/01/10 at 8:03 am
Nine men standing trial for murder inflicted injuries on themselves and tried to pass it off as police torture, a medical examiner told Bahrain’s High Criminal Court yesterday.
The Bahrainis claimed they were beaten into confessing by police, but Dr Hatim Mahmood Nabeel told judges that was unlikely during a gruelling two-and-a-half hour session.
They are standing [...]
Bahrain: Strength in Diversity
Bahrain appears to have finished 2009 in better shape than many could have foreseen at the beginning of the year, and will be looking to 2010 with a confidence garnered from the solid performance of the country’s economy under pressure. There had been fears that Bahrain would be hard hit by the global crisis, especially [...]
Full Story4,500 job chances for graduates
A scheme to put thousands of jobless Bahraini graduates into work was officially launched yesterday.
Fifty-five per cent of those registered unemployed are university graduates, said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
Most hold degrees in specialisations for which there is little or no demand in the labour market, he declared at an annual ceremony to honour [...]
New plea to tackle bias in workplace
A call to combat discrimination in the workplace went out yesterday from Bahrain’s top union leader.
Many workers are being denied opportunities or recognition, despite Bahrain’s laws against discrimination, said General Federation for Bahrain Trade Unions secretary-general Salman Al Mahfoodh.
“Bahrain is a country that is against discrimination, yet nothing is being done to support those who [...]
30,000 to protest fuel price rise
More than 30,000 people are expected to demonstrate on the streets of Manama tomorrow amid fears of a potential increase in petrol prices.
Twelve political societies, under the chairmanship of Al Wefaq block MP Jawad Fairooz, have joined forces with trade unions to organise the protest.
MPs were outraged last month when ministers confirmed that the existing [...]
Salman Industrial City ‘key milestone’
Jobs at the Salman Industrial City are expected to more than double to around 34,000 within a few years.
Investments in the venture, which already house 160 companies, are also expected to more than double to nearly $8 billion (BD3bn).
The forecast came as His Majesty King Hamad officially laid the foundation stone for the city yesterday.
It [...]
Salman Industrial City Inaugurated
Investments in the Salman Industrial City are expected to more than double to nearly $8 billion (BD3bn) in the next few years.
The forecast came as His Majesty King Hamad officially laid the foundation stone for the city yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, His Royal [...]
Worksite deaths spark safety call
Thirty-Eight workers were killed in worksite accidents in Bahrain last year, up two on 2008.
There were 62 serious injuries, compared to 66 in 2008, Labour Ministry occupational health and safety engineer and inspector Hussain Al Shami told the GDN.
Most deaths and injuries resulted from workers falling from buildings under construction, being hit by falling materials, [...]
Bahrain plans $2.65bn city
A company will be hired in the next few days to map out the BD1 billion ($2.65 billion) redevelopment of the Manama Central Market area into a city within a city.
The Manama Municipality and Municipal Council have already selected the company out of two bidders in the summer, but were not totally pleased with the [...]
Ministers summoned over ‘immoral tourism’
Manama Four ministers have been summoned to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating alleged immoral activities in Bahrain’s tourism sector.
The ministers of interior, culture and information, municipality affairs and industry and commerce will on Monday present their views to the five-member committee formed last week by the lower house.
The committee looked into charges of malpractices [...]
GCC eyes $109bn rail investment in next 10 years
GCC nations are planning to invest $109bn on rail projects in the next 10 years as officials look to solve traffic congestion issues, according to a new report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz).
Road expansion projects will also continue with a total of $14.45bn planned to 2019 but $3.8bn worth of highways work has been cancelled [...]
ADIH exits Porta Reef Fund
Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) has announced the partial exit of its Porta Reef Fund, which funded the purchase and development of three 10-storey residential towers on Reef Island.
‘During the current tough global economic environment, the ADIH team continues to diligently work on safeguarding investors’ interest, said ADIH chief executive officer Fawaz Ali Al Jowder.
‘The [...]
GFH Resolves Legends Project (Dubailand) Balance Sheet Exposure
Gulf Finance House, the leading Middle Eastern Islamic investment bank announced it will take. a US$ 300 million (non-cash) charge against its proprietary Dubailand position and correspondingly reduce the liabilities on its balance sheet by US$ 290 million. This action has no implications for the Bank’s clients. Furthermore, GFH has no remaining material exposure [...]
Full StoryKnives and bricks threat to police
Police allegedly attacked when they forced their way into a house to arrest a man, admitted in court yesterday that they did not have a warrant.
The Bahraini is standing trial at the High Criminal Court, where he denies assaulting police, threatening them and resisting arrest.
Police went to his Hamad Town house in April to arrest [...]
Eclipse of ‘blue moon’ tonight…
SKY gazers in Bahrain will be able to witness a partial lunar eclipse of a “blue moon” tonight.
The moon will eclipse by eight per cent, said Bahrain Astronomical Society vice-president and Bahrain University applied physics professor Dr Waheeb Alnaser.
People will be able to see the eclipse without the aid of a telescope between 9.57pm [...]
Money laundering charge Bahrainis to review verdict
Lawyers of two men at the centre of a multi-million-dinar fraud were yesterday given two months to review a new verdict which effectively axed part of Bahrain’s law on money laundering.
The two Bahraini defendants, each former Alba employees, are facing charges of money laundering, fraud and bribery.
Prosecutors claim the men accepted bribes from foreign firms [...]
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School students could soon be spied on under a campaign to stamp out homosexuality, under demands made by MPs yesterday. Parliament also demanded that the Interior Ministry stop granting any residence permits to foreign homosexuals.
Any already here should be deported as soon as they are detected, MPs said at parliament’s weekly session.
MPs also called for [...]
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Impressive move
Draft law scraps jail terms for journalists
In a major move to give a further boost to the Fourth Estate in the Kingdom, the Cabinet yesterday endorsed a draft law to amend the 2002 Press legislation and scrap jail terms for journalists.
The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, [...]
Action call after minister cleared
Opposition MPs yesterday threatened action after a parliamentary committee cleared a minister of masterminding a cover-up.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa had always denied keeping Bahrain’s population explosion a secret.
However, he was let off the hook yesterday by a parliamentary committee, which decided no action should be taken against him.
Three of seven [...]
Man killed over 500 fils
An argument over 500 fils cost Bahraini Mohammed Jassim Dossary his life yesterday, reports SARA SAMI.
The 38-year-old was killed in an attack after an argument with an Asian mechanic at a workshop in Suq W’aqif, Hamad Town.
The worker demanded BD1.500 for welding machine repairs but Mr Dossary insisted on paying BD1, sources told the GDN.
Following [...]
