Gulf in the News – February 10, 2014

KSA demands urgent Syria session at UN

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia has called for an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly to discuss the Syrian crisis, Al-Arabiya channel reported on Sunday quoting the Kingdom’s permanent mission at the UN.

Iran to cooperate in UN N-bomb probe

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

The UN nuclear agency said yesterday that Iran had agreed to start addressing suspicions that it may have worked on designing an atomic weapon, a potential breakthrough in a long-stalled investigation into Tehran’s atomic activities.  The development — although limited for now — marked a step forward in an international push to settle a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran says this is peaceful, while the West fears that Iran wants to develop atomic arms.

MP demands 30-year jail for jihadists

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

MP Nabeel Al-Fadi yesterday submitted a draft law stipulating 30 years in jail for Kuwaitis who take part in fighting outside the country and for those who instigate and encourage them. The draft law stipulates a jail term of between five to 20 years and a fine of between KD 10,000 and 20,000 for Kuwaitis who take part in combat operations outside Kuwait and those who promote, encourage, instigate, and support them. The court can however choose between jail and fine.

Saudi Arabia must address youth fighting abroad

Source: Al-Monitor (Read full story)

On Feb. 3, the Saudi king issued a royal decree punishing those who participate in fighting outside the kingdom with prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years. Undoubtedly, this important and brazen decision will solve part of the issue, especially since the punishment applies to the members of extremist groups and organizations or those deemed “terrorist,” whether locally or internationally. Moreover, the anti-terrorism law has become applicable in Saudi Arabia.

Oman’s railroad plan worth $3bn to blunt Iran oil risk

Source: Gulf Times (Read full story)

Oman, which faces Iran across the Strait of Hormuz, has said it is poised to start raising cash for a $3bn rail line offering an alternative route for oil and freight shipments that funnel through the 21 mile-wide channel.  The nation of 3.3mn people, located on the southern side of the strait, is considering issuing bonds by the end of 2014 to kick-start funding for the track across some of the Arabian Peninsula’s harshest terrain, Abdulrahman al-Hatmi, a director at Oman National Railway Co, said in an interview.