Nuclear energy’s benefits becoming more obvious, says UAE

Source: The National (Read full story)

Nuclear energy will account for carbon dioxide savings of 3.2 gigatonnes a year by 2050, a report says.  The report, by the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the drop in damaging greenhouse gas emissions would come despite increased production to cater for greater global demand.  “Nuclear energy is a source of energy that is available today and it has almost negligible carbon dioxide emissions compared to other hydrocarbon sources,” said Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent ambassador to the IAEA.

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Single GCC visa likely by mid-2014

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

GCC countries are planning to launch a European-style Schengen visa by mid-2014 to allow Gulf-based expats and foreign businessmen to move easily across the borders of the six-member bloc.  The GCC interior ministers are working on the details of the project, which many believe will boost tourism and trade in the region, and cut out lengthy bureaucratic delays, said Abdul Rahim Hassan Al-Naqi, secretary-general of the GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “The Gulf countries are currently working on the technical details of the project, especially an automated system that will link the member countries.”

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Qatar calls for political solution to Syria crisis

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

Qatar and Algeria yesterday called for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and said that was the only panacea to the woes facing the country.  Qatar said its call for a political solution was based on the fact that the Bashar Al Assad regime was not responding to calls for peaceful solution to the Syrian imbroglio.  “We are, thus, left with one and only option to help end the violence and crisis in Syria and that is a political solution in our view,” said Qatar’s Foreign Minister      H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. He and the Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, are in Algeria on a two-day official tour. They arrived in capital Algiers on Wednesday evening.

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US allays Gulf fears over Iran deal

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

The interim nuclear deal between global powers and Iran may have raised the hackles of GCC countries, but the Pentagon says US forces are maintaining a robust presence in the region and will stand by its allies to ensure their security. It is also becoming increasingly evident the US has softened its stance on Syria, and has ruled out a military solution to the conflict in that country despite criticism from Gulf countries for its failure to strike the Bashar Al Assad regime.  “Absolutely not. Again, as the Secretary noted in Manama last week, our commitment to the security of the Gulf region has never been stronger, and we are not going anywhere,” said Commander William Speaks from the Office of the Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel, replying to questions from Khaleej Times.

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​UAE pulls plug on Eurofighter jets deal

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

The United Arab Emirates has pulled out of talks with the UK government to purchase Typhoon Eurofighters, British defence company BAE Systems announced yesterday.  “BAE Systems and the UK government have been in discussions with the government of the United Arab Emirates regarding a range of defence and security capabilities including the potential supply of Typhoon aircraft,” a statement said.  “The UAE have advised that they have elected not to proceed with these proposals at this time.”  The development could see the UAE now turn to Rafale fighter planes, made by French aerospace group Dassault Aviation, to replace its ageing French Mirages.

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Iran spy chief runs military ops in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen?

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

Informed Gulf intelligence sources said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief General Qasim Suleimani runs the military operations in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, Al-Qabas reported. Suleimani is considered an iron man in Iran and his involvement is clear in establishing training camps for some Gulf citizens in Lebanon, where they are trained on using arms, explosives and waging street wars. Al-Qabas learned that Hezbollah and its branches in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and the Arabian Gulf receive instructions directly from Suleimani, the latest of which is the firing of rockets in Al-Ouja triangle close to the Iraq-Saudi borders.

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