Tests prove held man is top Saudi militant linked with Iran embassy attack in Beirut

Source: The National (Read full story)

DNA tests yesterday showed that the man detained in Beirut and suspected in the Iran embassy bombing is the Saudi commander of an Al Qaeda-linked group.  The tests confirmed that the detained man is Majid Al Majid, the commander of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, the army said yesterday.  The group had claimed responsibility for a number of attacks, including the November 19 twin bombings at the Iranian embassy in Beirut that killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens.  Al Majid is being held in a military hospital because “he is in poor health”, a medical official said.

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It is forbidden to use phones while driving, says mufti

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

It is forbidden to use phones while driving because of the danger of causing accidents, the Eastern Province’s mufti said here recently.  Khalaf bin Mohammed Al-Mutlaq was speaking to the media here during the launch of a campaign entitled “Don’t Be Captive to Your Mobile.”  He also warned that young people are becoming addicted to the technology on their smart phones, distracting them from their school and religious duties.  “It is forbidden to drive and use your mobile because of the risks involved.”

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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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Saudi envoy: West’s policies on Syria and Iran dangerous gamble

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia is prepared to act on its own to safeguard security in the region, the Saudi ambassador to Britain has said in a commentary published in the New York Times.  Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf termed the West’s policies on Iran and Syria as a dangerous gamble. “We believe that many of the West’s policies on both Iran and Syria risk the stability and security of the Middle East,” the ambassador wrote. “This is a dangerous gamble, about which we cannot remain silent, and will not stand idly by,” he stated.  Citing Iran’s backing for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, he said “rather than challenging the Syrian and Iranian governments, some of our Western partners have refused to take much-needed action against them.

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Kuwait Parliament Speaker praises deeply-rooted Gulf-EU relations

Source: Kuwait News Agency (Read full story)

Kuwait’s National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim lauded Tuesday the strong and historic ties between Gulf Cooperation Council member states (GCC) and Europe.  “Relations between the GCC countries and Europe are distinguished in all domains,” Al-Ghanim told KUNA following a meeting with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.  He went on to say that “GCC states are the fifth biggest trade partner to the European Union.” Al-Ghanim added that GCC states are about to unify economic legislations to pave the way for broader and strategic partnership with the EU countries.

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Saudi Arabia will go it alone

Source: New York Times (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia has been friends with our Western partners for decades; for some, like the United Kingdom where I [Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] serve as ambassador, for almost a century. These are strategic alliances that benefit us both. Recently, these relationships have been tested — principally because of differences over Iran and Syria. We believe that many of the West’s policies on both Iran and Syria risk the stability and security of the Middle East. This is a dangerous gamble, about which we cannot remain silent, and will not stand idly by.  … While international efforts have been taken to remove the weapons of mass destruction used by the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad, surely the West must see that the regime itself remains the greatest weapon of mass destruction of all?

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Saudi Prince Criticizes Obama Administration, Citing Indecision in Mideast

Source: New York Times (Read full story)

“We’ve seen several red lines put forward by the president, which went along and became pinkish as time grew, and eventually ended up completely white,” said Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia. “When that kind of assurance comes from a leader of a country like the United States, we expect him to stand by it.” He added, “There is an issue of confidence.”  Mr. Obama has his problems, the prince said, but when a country has strong allies, “you should be able to give them the assurance that what you say is going to be what you do.” The prince no longer has any official position but has lately been providing the public expression of internal Saudi views with clear approval from the Saudi government.

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Qatar slams terror attack in Yemen

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

Qatar strongly condemned the explosion that targeted the Yemeni defence ministry in Sana’a and killed 52 people, including foreign medical staff, yesterday.  An official source at the Qatari Foreign Ministry told Qatar News Agency that this criminal act was contrary to all human values.  The source renewed Qatar’s firm stance denouncing violence in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its source. … The GCC member countries are fully behind Yemeni President  Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the government in their bid to maintain stability and security in Yemen, [GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif] Al Zayani added.

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