Bahrain has dropped a case filed four months ago to suspend the activities of an opposition political group, the state news agency BNA said on Sunday, in a move that could ease tensions ahead of general elections.
The justice ministry in July asked a court to suspend the National Democratic Action Society, known as Waad, and two other groups, including the main opposition group Al Wefaq, for three months.
The ministry told the court it had based its decision to drop the case against Waad after the group had held its annual general conference and elected a new secretary general according to the law.
Bahrain quelled mass protests in 2011 when majority Shiites led demonstrations to demand political reforms, but low-level unrest has persisted.
Talks between the government and mostly-Shiite opposition have failed to end a political standoff.
Bahrain is to hold parliamentary elections on November 22. Al Wefaq and other political associations, including Waad, have said they intend to boycott the poll to protest what they described as a vote where the results would be “fully controlled by the ruling authority”.
A Bahraini court last month ordered Al Wefaq’s activities suspended for three months, but the justice minister deferred implementation of the decision to give the group time to hold its annual general conference.
Al Wefaq has said it would hold its annual meeting in December.
* Reuters
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
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Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Keane on …
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
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Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
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A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
Business Insights
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
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