Saudi Prince Bader Bin Abdul Aziz dies

Source: Al Bawaba News (Read full story)

The Saudi Royal Court announced on Monday that Prince Bader Bin Abdul Aziz has died. “The funeral prayers will be held on Tuesday at the Imam Turki Mosque in Riyadh,” the court said in a brief statement, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The prince was 81 years old and  the 20th son of King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who founded the Kingdom. In a long and prestigious career, he served as Minister of communications and more recently as deputy commander of the National Guard until he stepped down in 2010.

A Kingdom’s Thirst: The Saudi Water Challenge

Source: Saudi-US Trade Group (Read full story)

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By 2016, Saudi Arabia seeks to totally supplant domestic wheat production with imports. To meet this deadline, the Saudi government and Saudi agriculture companies have begun buying up huge swaths of fertile land in Pakistan, Nigeria and other areas. One analysis done by Deutsche Bank noted that Saudi Arabia purchased major tracts of farmland in the Sudan and Ethiopia, with companies like Saudi Arabia’s Almari, Foras International Investment Co., and NADEC leading the charge. That report concluded th obvious, “Countries facing water stress, such as China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and countries in South Asia are among the major investors in farmland.”

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National dialogue: Yemen’s key to peace and stability

Source: The Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

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The worst situation for Yemen would arise if the NDC fails to come out with concrete solutions. In such a scenario, there seems to be no alternative in place, neither with the government nor with the opposition factions. Even the external forces, who are deeply involved in bringing the different factions to the table, do not seem to have any other alternative proposal.  With several forces still discontented with the NDC, the failure of the conference will provide them an avenue to protest and that would lead to further instability in the country. If the NDC fails to reach a solution and allows the chaos and insecurity to continue, Yemen may plunge into long term chaos.

Focus on Duqm

Source: Oman Tribune (Read full story)

The focus seems to have now veered to Duqm. And this is evident from news reports that the Special Economic Zone at Duqm will, in the next few years, become a multi-industrial and commercial centre. In this context, the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development and the Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm  have presented a portfolio that throws light on the opportunities there to over 200  international trade organisations from 56 nations at the second Global Free Trade Exhibition and Summit at Kuala Lumpur. This amply proves that Oman is establishing itself as an attractive business destination. And there is no doubt that the efforts of the government and its agencies and the private sector to focus on Duqm will be successful in the same manner as Sohar was sold to the world.

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Reforms ‘will help Bahrain combat terror’

Source: Gulf Daily News (Read full story)

Combating street violence and terrorism in Bahrain could only be achieved through reforms, according to a top government minister. Efforts to implement political, social and economic reforms comes from an unconditional commitment to support governance of laws and human rights in the country, said Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa yesterday. He was speaking during the opening of the Bahrain International Symposium held at Bahrain University, which is reviewing the country’s development and political reforms.

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New airport opening postponed

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

The opening of Hamad International Airport (HIA), which was scheduled for 12.20am today, has been cancelled. The last-minute cancellation of the much-publicised event followed a directive from the Civil Defence Department. In a late-night announcement Abdulaziz Al Noaimi, the Chairman of the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Steering Committee said yesterday they were forced to put off the April 1 inauguration as the airport did not meet the newly introduced safety and security requirements mandated by the Civil Defence Department. The inauguration of the new airport will be held on another date. The date will be announced shortly, Al Noaimi said in a brief statement.

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