Time to reflect, reinvigorate

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

 King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, congratulated the Saudi people on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan – the month that all hearts and souls longed for so as to seek Allah’s reward and mercy.

In a speech to the people of the Kingdom delivered on their behalf by Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, the King and the Crown Prince said Muslims should recall the overwhelming happiness when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on a blessed night, a night better than one thousand months.

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Old faces retained in ‘temporary’ Cabinet – Rola Dashti only female and MP in new government

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

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MP Rola Dashti was the only newcomer in the Cabinet, appointed state minister for planning and development and state minister for National Assembly affairs. She is also the sole woman and only lawmaker in the Cabinet. Under the law, at least one MP must be included in the Cabinet. There were no women in the previous Cabinet. The new Cabinet is expected to recommend to the Amir to dissolve the 2009 Assembly, which was reinstated by the constitutional court last month and paves the way for holding new elections.

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Extra Saudi forces deployed with Iran in mind

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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Western diplomats confirmed that more Saudi security forces have been deployed to the Eastern Province, saying it was related to Iran but gave no further details.

Two Saudi nationals died during protests with police in the Qatif region this month after a Shiite cleric was arrested.

Saudi Arabia has already taken some precautionary steps against the possibility of Iran shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, including the reopening of an old pipeline built by Iraq to bypass the strait and export more crude via the Red Sea terminals.

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