Doha climate talks: Qatar may ask select ministers to take lead in resolving prickly issues

Source: The Economic Times (Read full story)

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Qatar, sources said, was likely to use the Cancun method of operation again at Doha and ask two ministers each – one from the developed countries and another from the developing world – to kick-start the talks around new text starting December 5.

Whether Qatar, which has so far held its cards close to its chests, would restrict countries that participate in these dialogues remains unclear the sources explained. But, they said, the level of transparency would take a dip for sure with new text emerging from out of the blue and the drafts already under negotiations falling aside.

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Opposition up in arms to down new Assembly – Former liberal MPs challenge one-vote decree

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

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In Saturday’s election, 17 candidates from the Shiite minority won seats for the first time ever. Shiites more than doubled their strength compared to seven seats in the 2012 scrapped Assembly and nine seats in 2009. Three women were also elected for the second time while Sunni Islamists, who held 23 seats in 2012 Assembly, were reduced to just four. The three largest bedouin tribes, the Awazem, Mutair and Ajman, which together have a population of over 430,000, won only one seat compared to an average of 17 in previous assemblies. The other seats were bagged by smaller tribes which got the opportunity to win seats with the new one-vote system.

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‘Kingdom never wavered in its support for Palestinians’

Source: The Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

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Sha’at praised the strong and long-lasting Saudi-Palestinian relations in which the Saudi leadership offers full support to Palestine and Palestinians at all levels — economic, financial and political. “Saudi Arabia never spares any effort to support the Palestinian National Authority since the start of the Palestinian revolution. The Saudi government has always supported Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who is a frequent visitor to the Kingdom. The position of Saudi Arabia on the Palestinian issue never will change,” he said.

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