‘Issues with Kuwait will be finalized before year end

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

Baghdad seeks to end all pending issues with Kuwait before the end of this year in order to restore the bilateral relations to their level during the 1980’s, the Iraqi government said in a recent statement. “Iraqi will end all pending issues with Kuwait before the start of next year; at which point there will be no obligations,” the statement reads, adding that the troubled relations between Kuwait and Iraq following the 1990 invasion have become “a thing of the past.” “The bilateral relations will be back to normal if not better because Iraq expressed good intention towards Kuwait, which were highly welcomed by Kuwait in return,” the statement adds.

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U.S. Reliance on Saudi Oil Heads Back Up

Source: The New York Times (Read full story)

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The increase in Saudi oil exports to the United States began slowly last summer and has picked up pace this year. Until then, the United States had decreased its dependence on foreign oil and from the Gulf in particular. This reversal is driven in part by the battle over Iran’s nuclear program. The United States tightened sanctions that hampered Iran’s ability to sell crude, the lifeline of its troubled economy, and Saudi Arabia agreed to increase production to help guarantee that the price did not skyrocket. While prices have remained relatively stable, and Tehran’s treasury has been squeezed, the United States is left increasingly vulnerable to a region in turmoil.

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Iran-GCC relations based on geopolitical reality

Source: Gulf News (Read full story)

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Some believe the recent moves between Iran and the GCC is related to efforts to release the 48 Iranian hostages taken by the Free Syrian Army and the Saudi diplomat kidnapped in Yemen. The Iranian hostages are members of the revolutionary guards, Syrian opposition said. Iran, however, said they are ordinary citizens who travelled to Syria to visit holy sites. Both the Gulf Countries and Iran are keen not to see their political relations hit a “dead-end”, added Naji, in reference to the recent warmth in the relations between the two sides.

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Tanker Leaves Gash in U.S. Destroyer After Collision Near Strait of Hormuz

Source: New York Times (Read full story)

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The collision tore a hole about 10 feet by 10 feet in the right side of the destroyer, the Porter, above the water line. No one on the Porter or the other vessel, a Japanese-owned bulk oil carrier called the Otowasan, was hurt, the Navy said in a statement.

The Navy said that the collision, which happened about 1 a.m., was not “combat related,” but that its cause had not been determined. Greg Raelson, a spokesman for the Navy, said Sunday afternoon that the destroyer had reached port in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

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Government to referelectoral law to court – No Assembly dissolution, no fresh elections

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

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The action comes after the unprecedented constitutional court ruling in June in which it nullified the February legislative polls, scrapped the 2012 Assembly and reinstated the 2009 house after it was dissolved in December. The 2009 Assembly failed to meet on two occasions last week due to a lack of quorum as both opposition and pro-government MPs boycotted the two sessions. Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said he will refer the issue to HH the Amir next week.

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