US sends aircraft carrier back to Gulf to face Iran

Source: Kuwait Times (read full story)

The US Navy is cutting short home leave for the crew of one of its aircraft carriers and sending them back to the Middle East next week to counter any threat from Iran, according to the official Navy News Service. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told sailors aboard the USS Stennis in their home port of Seattle on Wednesday they were needed back in the Middle East soon, after approving calls from the US Central Command for Stennis to return to the region. “Obviously, Iran is one of those threats,” the US military news service quoted Panetta as saying during a sendoff event at a military base on the US West Coast. “Secondly, it is the turmoil in Syria,” he said. “We’re obviously following that closely as well.”

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Court acquits Bahraini activist of Twitter insult

Source: Saudi Gazette (read full story)

A Bahrain judge on Thursday overturned a conviction against a prominent human rights campaigner for posting alleged anti-government comments on social media, but the activist remained jailed while appealing another prison sentence.

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Mega projects to make Kingdom top tourism destination

Source: Arab News (read full story)

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“Tourism is the second largest provider of jobs, accounting for 26 percent and Saudis are happy to work in this vital sector,” Prince Sultan pointed out. He highlighted the flow of tourists to Saudi resorts in recent years. “More than 10 million people attended tourism festivals in various parts of the country this summer.”

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