Bahrain ditches subsidy reform plan as political tensions simmer - Reuters:
Bahrain has scrapped a plan to reform its cumbersome subsidy system, officials said on Tuesday, as authorities worry it could trigger more unrest in the Gulf island and complicate government efforts to repair public finances.
The plan, which has been under discussion between the government and parliament since last year, aimed to overhaul allowances paid to Bahrainis squeezed by years of austerity and rising prices.
Bahrain, which does not possess the bountiful oil reserves of other wealthy Gulf neighbours, has had to introduce austerity measures in recent years such as a value-added tax and higher prices for water and power consumption.
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