Time to reflect, reinvigorate

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

 King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, congratulated the Saudi people on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan – the month that all hearts and souls longed for so as to seek Allah’s reward and mercy.

In a speech to the people of the Kingdom delivered on their behalf by Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, the King and the Crown Prince said Muslims should recall the overwhelming happiness when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on a blessed night, a night better than one thousand months.

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UAE, US authorities investigate shooting by a US navy ship in waters off Dubai

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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Authorities in the UAE and the US Navy are investigating a United States navy oil-supply vessel’s firing on a fishing boat off the coast of Jebel Ali, killing an Indian fisherman and critically injuring three other men, officials said.

“The UAE’s authorities are investigating [the incident],” Wam quoted Dr Tareq Ahmad Al Hidan, political affairs assistant to the Foreign Minister, as saying.

According to a US military official a US navy vessel fired upon a small motor vessel on Monday off the coast of Dubai after the motor vessel “disregarded warnings and rapidly approached the US ship.

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Habshan-Fujairah pipeline inaugurated today

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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The new pipeline can carry three-quarters of the UAE’s oil exports if needed. Until now, the UAE, like Qatar and Kuwait, had been entirely dependent on Hormuz to export its crude and the pipeline ends its dependence on a shipping artery that Iran has increasingly threatened to block as Western sanctions on its oil exports have tightened.

The US and its allies in Europe have been saying Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at building nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear programme is meant for peaceful purposes and if its oil exports are threatened, it will close the Strait of Hormuz.

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Saudis boost security in Eastern Region amid tension

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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Saudi Arabia may be further worried about Tehran’s reaction after a European Union oil embargo, widely expected to hurt Iran’s vital energy exports, went into effect on July 1 over its disputed nuclear programme.

Iran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Gulf where about a third of sea-borne oil exports pass, if it came under attack over its disputed nuclear programme.

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At least 22 dead in Yemen police academy suicide bombing

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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That attack – claimed by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – along with Wednesday’s bombing – showed quite how far the Yemeni government is from defeating the Islamist insurgents despite a U.S.-backed military offensive which drove them out of their southern strongholds.

The insurgents have vowed to carry their fight across Yemen.

Theodore Karasik, director of research and development at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said AQAP appeared to be adopting methods used in Iraq.

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U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, a Signal to Iran

Source: The New York Times (Read full story)

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Since late spring, stealthy F-22 and older F-15C warplanes have moved into two separate bases in the Persian Gulf to bolster the combat jets already in the region and the carrier strike groups that are on constant tours of the area. Those additional attack aircraft give the United States military greater capability against coastal missile batteries that could threaten shipping, as well as the reach to strike other targets deeper inside Iran.

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Row rages over rumored election law changes – Liberals call for legalizing parties, election commission

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

KUWAIT: Two key liberal groups called yesterday for important democratic reforms that include establishing an independent election commission, legalising political parties and issuing legislation to combat corruption as part of democratic reforms necessary to resolve the political deadlock in the country. The National Democratic Alliance, an umbrella group of liberals, and the Kuwait Democratic Forum, made the calls in a joint statement which insisted that these are essential demands to gradually achieving a full parliamentary system of governance after 50 years of democracy.

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Saudi Arabia urged to reopen embassy in Yemen

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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To protests against the closure of the embassy, many pilgrims, tourism agencies arranged tow sit-in in front of of Hadi’s house. Some of the protesters the pilgrimage attire as to show there are keen to perform Umrah. The protesters said that they denounced the abduction of the Saudi diplomat and urged the kingdom not to “collectively punish them for Al Qaida’s mistake.”

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