Gulf in the News – July 6, 2012

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Mariam Klait

Row rages over rumored election law changes – Liberals call for legalizing parties, election commission

KUWAIT: Two key liberal groups called yesterday for important democratic reforms that include establishing an independent election commission, legalising political parties and issuing legislation to combat corruption as part of democratic reforms necessary to resolve the political deadlock in the country. The National Democratic Alliance, an umbrella group of liberals, and the Kuwait Democratic Forum, made the calls in a joint statement which insisted that these are essential demands to gradually achieving a full parliamentary system of governance after 50 years of democracy.

…

Continue reading »

Islamic Finance and the Global Economic Crisis

Posted on July 5, 2012 by NCUSAR

On February 17, 2009, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations held a Public Affairs Briefing in Washington, DC on “Islamic Finance and the Global Economic Crisis.” Participating specialists were Dr. Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo, Chief Shariah Officer of Shariah Capital, and Mr. Michael McMillen, an attorney with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony convened the session and served as moderator. Dr. DeLorenzo and Mr. McMillen discussed the emerging and rapidly growing role of Islamic finance in the international financial community.

Links to a podcast and video recording of the program are available below. The podcast, along with recordings of other National Council programs, is also available through iTunes: http://bit.ly/itunes-ncusar.

“Islamic Finance and the Global Economic Crisis” podcast (.mp3)

Gulf in the News – July 5, 2012

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Mariam Klait

Saudi Arabia urged to reopen embassy in Yemen

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

…

To protests against the closure of the embassy, many pilgrims, tourism agencies arranged tow sit-in in front of of Hadi’s house. Some of the protesters the pilgrimage attire as to show there are keen to perform Umrah. The protesters said that they denounced the abduction of the Saudi diplomat and urged the kingdom not to “collectively punish them for Al Qaida’s mistake.”

…

Continue reading »

Gulf in the News – July 2, 2012

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Mariam Klait

Opposition threatens to boycott polls if law changed – Amir accepts resignation of Cabinet, to start talks

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

…

The government has said that it submitted its resignation in a bid to rectify the flawed procedures and to open the way for the formation of a new government that will fulfill all constitutional requirements in a bid to prevent similar flawed procedures from happening again. The Amir is scheduled to open traditional consultations today with former premiers and former and present Assembly speakers in addition to leading political figures ahead of asking the prime minister to form a new Cabinet.

…

Continue reading »