Cabinet to meet to decide on ideal date for elections – Debate rages over constitutional court ruling

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

The Cabinet is expected to hold an extraordinary session today to discuss an ideal date for the parliamentary election following the constitutional court’s ruling that scrapped the National Assembly as the debate over the verdict continues among various political groups. The Cabinet may announce the election date today after approving a decree to dissolve the Assembly or postpone a final decision until the beginning of next week. Observers believe that the most likely scenario is to hold polls during the holy month of Ramadan that will start on July 9 and specifically in the last third of the month.

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Interior Ministry seeks Interpol help against attacks by hackers

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

The Ministry of Interior has asked Interpol to help pursue hackers attacking government websites, said a ministry official. Director general of the National Center for Electronic Security (NCES) at the ministry, Saleh Al-Mutairi, said that cyber attacks have been launched on the websites of the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, labor and finance. Al-Mutairi was speaking to the media on the opening day of the First National Seminar on Electronic Security in Riyadh on Monday.

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British minister gives evidence in parliament probe

Source: Gulf Daily News (Read full story)

A top British official yesterday categorically denied that the UK could be held responsible for the actions of Bahrain’s security forces in February 2011. British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt was giving evidence during the sixth and final session of a parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. “There is no logical connection between what the Saudi authorities were asked to do by the government of Bahrain and the GCC and human rights abuses,” he said in response to suggestions that British-made armoured vehicles sent to Bahrain from Saudi Arabia could have exacerbated the situation.

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UAE jobs initiative spreads message

Source: The National (Read full story)

More companies have learnt about the benefits of an initiative that aims to create thousands of new jobs for Emiratis over the next five years.  The Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) organised an introductory meeting for its consultants, contractors and vendors yesterday to introduce them to the Absher initiative. “National jobseekers can take advantage of training and development programmes and secure quality roles and appointments in major companies,” said Mohammed Khalifa Al Fahed Al Mehairi, the chief executive of Musanada, who used the meeting to express the company’s keenness to provide the necessary support for the initiative.

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Oman and Bahrain have lot to gain from GCC plan

Source: Gulf News (Read full story)

The $20 billion GCC “Marshall-type Plan”, laid down by the Gulf nations to finance development projects in Bahrain and Oman, is expected to bring about a qualitative leap in infrastructure in both countries. In turn, it will lead to the implementation of several development projects and creation of job opportunities due to their sheer size. The aid package of $20 billion, with $10 billion going to each country, was announced in March 2011. Some of these infrastructure projects are defined as service, such as housing and health projects, while others are more long-term development ones, such as the creation of energy and water sources, particular renewable energy, which need huge investments.

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Qatar Airways bags three awards

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

Qatar Airways took home three honours at the annual Skytrax 2013 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget yesterday. The airline was awarded World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge and, for the second consecutive year, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East. The World Airline Awards are a global benchmark of airline excellence. Skytrax is the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and is considered the ultimate testament for excellence in the airline industry. Travelers from over 160 countries take part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners.

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