2nd/ 3rd March 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

the picture of detainees it was allowed to interview.

Bahrain slams rights report as biased, erroneous

Bahrains interior ministry has rejected a Human Rights Watch report, saying that it was contradictory, misinformed and incorrect. The ministry also accused the rights watchdog of failing to respect an agreement by publishing

The New-York-based NGO published its report at the end of a ve-day visit to Bahrain on February 28. In a long and searing statement, the ministry said it had arranged for the NGO delegates to visit Jaw Prison and police stations and temporary detention facilities. Read More Scottish Qualications Authority (SQA) signed a contract with Bahrain last March while the government was violently repressing political protests. The agreement was to set up a qualications network and the SQA described the project as one of the most important recent developments in education in Bahrain. Read More

Struggling Gulf Air sacks staff as unions reject revamp

Bahrain's loss-making ag carrier Gulf Air, struggling against competition from other regional carriers, has embarked on a sweeping restructuring plan that has annoyed unions over heavy job cuts. The company said this week it had sacked 15 percent of its staff and

closed four more routes in January as it pressed ahead with a restructuring plan that it launched a month earlier. The carrier, one of the Gulf region's oldest airlines, has been struggling to cut losses mounted by stiff competition from fast growers like Dubai's Emirates, Abu Dhabi's Etihad and Qatar Airways, as well as rapidly expanding budget airlines like ydubai and Air Arabia. Read More

Ministers urged to probe SQAs deal with Bahrain

PRESSURE was mounting last night on ministers to hold an inquiry into why a Scottish public body signed a deal with a regime accused of gross human rights abuses against women and children. Scotland on Sunday revealed last week that the