West-GCC alliance Tested in Syria as Iran-Syria Alliance Proves Firm

Source: INEGMA (Read full story)

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The GCC has announced its full support to the Syrian revolution and some Gulf countries are providing funds and arms to the rebels. GCC assistance is what helped the rebels stay in the fight and not the empty promises from European capitals and Washington. Now the West speaks about the threat of Al-Qaeda and fundamentalist groups that infiltrated the Syrian rebels and caution about arms falling into the “wrong hands.” But they forget that the absence of genuine military aid from so-called allies to the rebels was what created the vacuum of support which the extremist groups where more than glad to fill in Syria.

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Qatar joins calls for Morsi’s release

Source: The Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

Qatar, a strong backer of Arab Spring uprisings and supporter of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, has joined international calls for his release from detention while expressing concern at violence sweeping Egypt. State news agency QNA late Tuesday quoted a foreign ministry official as saying Qatar had voiced “concern over the developments in Egypt, especially with the increasing number of civilian victims”. It said it was “surprised by the continued detention of elected president Mohamed Morsi which threatens the achievements made by the 25 January (2011) revolt” that forced former ruler Hosni Mubarak out of office.

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Appeals Court disqualifies 3, reinstates 4 candidates

The Appeals Court yesterday reinstated four candidates and allowed them to run in the July 27 election after it overturned a decision by the Administrative Court to disqualify them. The original decision was issued by the Interior Ministry because the candidates did not fulfill conditions for running in election. The Appeals Court however upheld the Administrative Court’s ruling to disqualify three other candidates. The same court rejected an appeal by candidate Hani Hussein calling to stop the election on suspected procedural flaws, confirming perhaps for the last time before the election that the polls day remains intact.

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Oman plans to double its investments in five years

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Oman’s projects market is set to receive a massive boost as the sultanate doubles its investment in turnkey projects over the next five years, with as much as $65 billion worth of projects to be awarded between 2013 and 2017. Among the projects at the forefront of Oman’s aggressive expansion programme are BP’s $15 billion Khazzan tight gas project, the development of a $10 billion refinery and petrochemical complex at Duqm and a nationwide railway construction project. Some of the largest projects expected to be completed this year include the $560 million Sohar Steel Complex Expansion (Phase 3) and the $480 million Musandam Oil & Gas Processing Plant.

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It is nine years since his passing on the 19th day of Ramadan, 1425, an anniversary which falls on Sunday, and serves as an auspicious time to remember the Father of the Nation and honour his achievements during a month of sacrifice and remembrance. This 19th day of Ramadan is also Emirati Humanitarian Work Day, and draws on the memory of Sheikh Zayed to springboard on to a series of initiatives that promote the spirit of giving and philanthropy.  They include clothing drives for orphans and the needy, fund-raising for the “Egypt in Our Hearts” campaign as well as a series of free iftars along with films and photographic exhibitions about his life and work.

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Power struggle emerges over Yemen

Source: Gulf News (Read full story)

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Plans include building institutional capacities for the media sector by setting standards for media work according to international standards, establishing an advanced government communications system, forming a wide network of media relations abroad and making the media and communication sector an attractive field of investment that will contribute to the diversification of the kingdom’s national income.Under the income-boosting objective, the ministry plans to set up a city for audio-visual industries, a city for film production, a city for digital production and a city for the book publishing industry.

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