Rockets hit UAE’s mission to Libya
Source: The National (Read full story)
The UAE Embassy in Libya was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades in a terror attack yesterday. The Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs, Faris Al Mazrouei, confirmed the incident to the state news agency Wam, but stressed no one was injured in the 5am assault. “An attack happened this morning on the Emirati embassy. There are no casualties,” Libyan interior ministry spokesman Rami Kaal said yesterday. Mr Al Mazrouei said the embassy was helping Libyan investigators try to identify the culprits. Libyan security sources were quoted by Al Arabiya television as saying the rockets were aimed at the residence of the ambassador, Brig Gen Mohammed Al Kaabi.
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Kuwaitis to vote in lackluster election
Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)
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Political science professor and former MP Hassan Jowhar expressed concern that what was happening in Kuwait is a conspiracy against democracy for economic interests. “It is feared that a systematic attempt is underway to make Kuwaitis hate democracy and political participation,” in order to seize public funds under the cover of “fake” development projects, Jowhar wrote in Al-Jarida newspaper. OPEC member Kuwait has posted budget surpluses of around $300 billion in the past 13 fiscal years, thanks to high oil prices, and is estimated to hold about $400 billion of foreign assets.- AFP
Obama to meet Yemen leader for talks on Gitmo inmates
Source: Gulf News (Read full story)
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The visit, Hadi’s second to the White House in less than a year, comes after Obama announced a decision to lift a moratorium on the release of Yemenis held in the offshore prison set up in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Yemen is home to Al Qaida’s most potent franchise and has been the source of several foiled terror attacks on the United States in recent years. But its government, despite having only tenuous control over vast swathes of the country, has long been a close ally of the United States in its war against the global terror network. The White House said the visit would “highlight the strength of the US-Yemeni relationship and underscore the United States’ ongoing support for Yemen’s political transition.”
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UAE, KSA score high in GCC renewable energy readiness
Source: The Saudi Gazette (Read full story)
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Titled “Renewable Energy Readiness Assessment Report: The GCC Countries 2011-2012”, the 2013 EU-GCC report suggests that initiatives undertaken so far in the GCC represent a proactive approach to addressing energy security and environmental issues at international, regional and national scales. It reveals that most countries have not yet officially set their renewable energy development targets and are to implement yet stable policies. The GCC has to come up with a consistent strategy for the region as well as individual national plans to achieve renewable energy technology deployment goals. The report was an outcome of the collaboration between the GCC consortium on clean energy and the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network that aims to respond to the common interests of stakeholders in the GCC and the EU regions.
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Qatar support for Syria rebels to continue
Source: The Peninsula Qatar (Read full story)
Nizar Al Haraki, ambassador of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) to Doha, yesterday said Qatar would continue to support the coalition despite the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s abdication. “I met with the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and congratulated him on his new role, and I expressed the importance of continuing support to Syria and he told me that Qatar will continue to support Syria,” Haraki said. He added that proof of continuing Qatari assistance came a few days ago when Qatar gave $5m to the SNC to purchase humanitarian aid supplies. Moreover the newly-elected leader of the SNC, Ahmad Al Jarba, is planning to visit Qatar within days to coordinate aid supplies, Haraki added.
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Oman: Naming prime minister is not easy, says minister
Source: Gulf News (Read full story)
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Only once, in early seventies, Oman had a prime minister in Sayyid Tareq Bin Tamiour, the Sultan’s uncle. After him, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed has held the position of the prime minister and chairs all meetings of the Council of Ministers. The Omani leader is also in charge of the portfolio of defence, finance and foreign affairs. He also serves as the supreme commander of the armed forces. Yousuf Bin Alawi also said that once a prime minister is named all the responsibilities would fall on him and people would hold him responsible for any governing mistakes.
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