Two petitions filed against poll results
Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)
Petitions against the results of parliamentary election began rolling yesterday with two candidates challenging the results as head of the judicial committee that supervised the polls insisted the election process was seamless. Candidates from the Fifth Constituency former MP Abdullah Mahdi Al-Ajmi challenged the results in his constituency on the grounds that his name was not printed on the list of candidates in the districts and that judges supervising the process had to write his name on the list. Newcomer Saud Al-Subaie also challenged the outcome on the basis of allegations that there were irregularities in counting the votes that allotted some of his votes to other candidates.
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UAE’s humanitarian aid for Syrians reaches Dh130.2 million
Source: Emirates 24/7 (Read full story)
The UAE has provided Dh130.2 million in humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, both within Syria and in other countries, since the start of the current crisis, according a recent report by the UAE Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD). The UAE’s assistance to Syrians has been channeled via the Red Crescent Authority (RCA), Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Dar Al Ber Society and Sharjah Charity Association.
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Ooredoo H1 profit jumps 28% to QR1.73bn as key markets shine
Source: Gulf Times (Read full story)
Ooredoo has reported a 28% jump in its first-half net (H1) profit to QR1.73bn. The group’s consolidated revenue rose 5% to QR17.14bn, fuelled by strong performances both in Qatar and across its international operations, particularly in Algeria, Indonesia and Iraq. The group EBITDA (earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortisation) decreased by 1.7% to QR7.66bn. EBITDA margin at the end of H1 2013 was 45%. “Our strong revenue performance has continued as planned, driven by further market share gains and closer customer engagement across some of our key markets. And now, we stand ready to enter our newest market, Myanmar, following the award of the licence there last month,” Ooredoo chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani said.
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Salaries of Shoura Council members are not low as claimed
Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)
The Shoura (consultative) Councils in Saudi Arabia and the other GCC countries have so far failed to convince the citizens that they are capable of representing them, expressing their concerns or resolving their problems. Early this month, my friend and colleague Talal Al-Shaikh, Editor-in-Chief Al-Watan newspaper, asked me to write an article. So I decided to contribute with an article comparing the monthly salaries of the parliament members in the world which was published in the Economist in mid-July. The British magazine considered the salary of the Saudi Shoura Council member to be humble compared to parliament members in Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia and South Africa.
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A New Era
Source: Gulf Daily News (Read full story)
Authorities are promising a “new era” in Bahrain after tough laws were passed as part of a crackdown on terrorism and street violence. The government has been told to act fast in implementing recommendations made by the National Assembly on Sunday. An extraordinary Cabinet session chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday focused on mechanisms and deadlines for enacting the 22 new laws, which are designed to restore order and eliminate loopholes that allow the incitement, support and funding of terrorism.
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Oman fiscal deficit in first 5 months
Source: Oman 24/7 (Read full story)
Oman recorded a fiscal deficit in the first five months of 2013 due to a sharp increase in expenditure although the Gulf country reported a massive surplus in the first four months, according to official data. The monthly report by the Ministry of National Economy showed the budget recorded a shortfall of around RO110.4 million (Dh1.06 billion) during January-May despite a large rise in the country’s oil production. The deficit followed a surplus of around RO1,033 million (Dh10.2 billion) in the first four months of this year while there was a surplus of RO1,580.5 million (Dh15.2 billion) in the first five months of 2012.
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